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PH Army, Marines sign defense cooperation with Japan's ground self-defense force

Philippines | National

PH Army, Marines sign defense cooperation with Japan's ground self-defense force

By Aaron Recuenco

The Philippine Army has strengthened its interoperability cooperation with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) in a move to further enhance defense cooperation between the two countries.

The defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan is stipulated in the trilateral Terms of Reference (TOR) with the Philippine Marine Corps (PMC) and the JGSDF which was signed in Tokyo, Japan on Wednesday, July 27.

"The trilateral TOR lays the groundwork for future engagements among PA, PMC, and JGSDF, which includes Japan’s Marine Unit," said Brawner.

"The TOR aims to enhance defense cooperation between the two countries and strengthen cooperation against emerging threats in new domains and others," he added.

The TOR was signed by Brawner, Philippine Marine Corps Acting Commandant,Brig. Gen. Raul Jesus L. Caldez and JGSDF Chief of Staff Gen. Yoshida Yoshihide during the 6th iteration of the PA-PMC-JGSDF Staff Talks and the “Strategic Guidance on Cooperation.”

The JGDSF is one of the key partners of PA in beefing up its disaster-response capabilities.

The signing of TOR is a reinforcement of the Japanese government’s commitment to helping beef up the Philippine Army’s disaster response capabilities during the visit of Parliamentary Vice Minister of Defense of Japan Vice Minister Tsuyohito Iwamoto to the 525th Engineer Combat “Mandirigtas” Battalion’s headquarters in Fort Bonifacio, Metro Manila on July 18, 2022.

The visit and equipment inspection came nine months after the Japanese government donated P51 million worth of water search and rescue, collapsed structure search and rescue, and crushed vehicle extrication and rescue equipment to PA. The PA and JGSDF also conduct regular Subject Matter Expert Exchanges in a spectrum of military operations.

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