https://freerepublic.com/tag/kamandag/ en-us Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:56:20 GMT Focus Forum 15 https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4376073/posts Japan for the first time has deployed ground troops to the Balikatan exercise, a series of multidomain drills staged across the Philippine archipelago. Participation by about 1,000 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) Soldiers augments the annual training that began decades ago as a Philippines-United States exercise and now involves about 20 nations. Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) personnel previously attended Balikatan as observers and in noncombat roles focused on humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HADR). They participated in a maritime drill in 2025. A reciprocal access agreement between Manila and Tokyo, which took effect in September 2025, allows JSDF and Armed... Indo-Pacific Defense Forum https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4376073/posts#comment Thu, 23 Apr 2026 03:56:20 GMT