Philippine President Benigno Aquino shaking hands with Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito, watched by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on June 3, 2015. (AFP)
Philippine President Benigno Aquino said today that his nation was ready to start talks that would allow Japanese military aircraft and naval vessels to use the Philippines to refuel, allowing them to extend their range of operation into the South China Sea.
The agreement would be a Visiting Forces Agreement, which would clear the way for the Japanese military to use Philippines' bases on a rotational basis, Aquino said at a press briefing in Tokyo at the end of a four-day state visit to Japan.
Aquino's trip comes as the two countries deepen their security ties. Manila is looking for allies in a territorial spat with China in the South China Sea, while Tokyo is concerned about Chinese land reclamation projects in the sea that it fears will expand Beijing's influence in a region.
© Thomson Reuters 2015