Japan's Ministry of Defense will begin assisting Myanmar and the Philippines with training military personnel in disaster relief and maritime security by March 2015.
The ministry, hoping to boost bilateral ties, will dispatch members of the Self-Defense Forces to teach military members in the two countries about rescue operations, reconstruction work and other activities. The move is part of Japan's efforts to strengthen security cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in the face of China's rising maritime presence in the region.
In addition to dispatching SDF members, the ministry will invite military personnel from the two countries to visit Japan for instruction in such areas as road and public facility maintenance, underwater rescue and marine chart drawing.
In the Philippines, the ministry plans to hold seminars on aircraft maintenance and inspection procedures and safety management.
For the complete article, please see Nikkei Asian Review.
