THE PHILIPPINES AND JAPAN PARTNER IT UP THEIR MILITARY TO COUNTER THE CHINESE COMMUNIST THREAT IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEAS–AS JAPAN TALKS ABOUT THE USE OF MILITARY BASES IN THE ARCHIPELAGO COUNTRY WITH ITS NAVAL AND AIRFORCE SOURCE FOR RESUPPLY AND REFUELING

The Philippines and Japan are to start talks on allowing Japanese military aircraft and naval vessels to use bases in the Philippines for refueling and picking up supplies, enabling them to extend their patrol range deep into the South China Sea, Philippine President Benigno Aquino said.

“We will be starting discussion on this,” Aquino said at a press conference in Tokyo on Friday.

Japan is considering joint air patrols with the United States in the South China Sea, sources told Reuters in April, in response to China’s increasingly assertive push for influence as it builds air strips and other man-made islands in the disputed waters.

A Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), would clear the way for the Japanese military to use Philippines’ bases on a rotational basis, similar to the way the U.S. does now. An ability to refuel close to the South China Sea would allow Japan’s Self Defense Forces to keep their aircraft on patrol longer and cover a greater distance.

The decision to start talks on a VFA was not included in a joint statement on Thursday after Aquino met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

The two leaders, however, discussed the VFA and agreed to open up negotiations, a source with knowledge of the meeting told Reuters. He declined to be identified because he is not authorized to talk to the media.

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/aquino-ready-for-talks-to-allow-japan-to-use-philippines-military-bases