A visiting forces agreement (VFA) , ratified by the Senate, might be needed before China and the Philippines could hold military exercises on Philippine soil, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday.
A visiting forces agreement (VFA) , ratified by the Senate, might be needed before China and the Philippines could hold military exercises on Philippine soil, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said on Tuesday.
Lorenzana said the defense and military establishments were open to military exercises with the Chinese but there must be a “framework” before any such drills were undertaken in Philippine territory.
“That’s perfectly fine with us. But first, we have to come up with a framework that will determine where (the exercises would be held) , what units (would be involved) , duration of patrol, purpose of patrol, and communications between forces, ” Lorenzana said.
“There are a lot of things to coordinate, this being the first with the Chinese. This is important because they will be entering our territorial waters, ” he said.
“If their sailors will get on land, there may be a need for a visiting forces agreement, ” Lorenzana said a day after President Duterte said the Armed Forces of the Philippines could hold joint exercises with China in Mindanao or the Sulu Sea.
