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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Centino joins defense conference in Tokyo; tackles SOFA with Japanese counterpart

Centino joins defense conference in Tokyo; tackles SOFA with Japanese counterpart

Published Mar 18, 2023 06:25 am
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) participated in the Defense and Security Equipment International (DSEI) conference in Japan earlier this week where top military officials from Manila and Tokyo discussed the possible establishment of a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA) between the two countries. The DSEI Japan conference gathered global defense industry stakeholders that support the sourcing of the latest equipment and systems, develop international relationships, and generate new business opportunities between Japan and the rest of the world. The event took place in Tokyo from March 14 to 17. The highlight of the event for the Philippine delegation was the “high-level” bilateral meeting between Gen. Andres Centino, AFP Chief of Staff, and Gen. Koji Yamazaki, Chief of the Japan Self Defense Forces (JSDF), according to Col. Jorry Baclor, chief of AFP public affairs office. “The two Chiefs of Defense discussed issues of mutual concern in the areas of maritime cooperation and defense, capability development, and the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) or a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)," Baclor said on Saturday, March 18. Like the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) that it forged with the United States, the Philippine government is eyeing to have a SOFA with Japan which, according to Baclor, “will pave the way for more enhanced training and exercises between the Philippines and Japan.” A SOFA is an agreement between a host country and a foreign nation that aims to station military forces to the former as part of a security arrangement. Meanwhile, RAA refers to a bilateral defense and security agreement by Japan with other nations to establish military training and operation. Last month, [President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.](https://mb.com.ph/2023/02/13/pbbm-open-to-vfa-with-japan-but-says-alliance-should-not-be-provocative/) had welcomed the idea of establishing a SOFA or VFA with Japan so long as it would not look provocative to avoid escalating tensions in the West Philippine Sea (WPS). Baclor said Yamazaki assured Centino of Japan’s “friendship and assistance on common security issues” to promote a “rules-based international order” in the WPS and “ensure a free and open” Indo-Pacific region. “For his part, Gen. Centino thanked Gen. Yamazaki for the genuine friendship and assistance in the ongoing capability development in the AFP and for being one of the country’s strongest [allies] when it comes to security and other economic and developmental activities,” Baclor stressed.
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