1,000 Japanese troops to take part in ‘Balikatan’ – AFP

MANILA, Philippines — Around 1,000 Japanese military personnel will be participating in this year’s iteration of the “Balikatan” exercises with the American, Filipino, and other allied troops from April to May, a ranking Armed Forces of the Philippines official said on Friday. AFP deputy chief of staff for plans, Maj. Gen. Rommel Cordova, in a