Philippines, Japan sign defense pact to seal South China Sea ties

The Philippines and Japan signed a historic troop access agreement on Monday in Manila that closens relations between two nations determined to counter threats posed by China’s growing influence in the Pacific.

In the purview of … maintaining an open, inclusive and rules-based international order based on international law, we have signed an instrument of trust today,” Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said in his opening statement to two-plus-two foreign and defense talks with Japan.