The Philippines hopes to sign key defence pact with Japan

The Philippine's Military Chief says he hopes a key defence pact with Japan that would allow the deployment of troops in each other's territory will be signed during security talks next week.

Japanese Defence Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are set to meet with their Philippine counterparts in Manila on Monday. The Philippines and Japan began negotiating the pact in November. The accord would create the legal basis for the countries to send defence personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations.