TOKYO — Philippine President Benigno Aquino, whose country was brutally invaded by Japan in World War II, said Tuesday he supports Shinzo Abe’s plan to expand the scope of his country’s armed forces.
The comments, during a one-day trip to Tokyo, highlight the huge shifts in attitude in the region and show how alliances are being forged as Asia adjusts to an increasingly muscular Beijing pressing territorial claims in nearby waters.
Aquino praised the path Japan had taken in the decades since its troops invaded the Philippines.
“Very few would question the devastation that my country suffered during the Second World War. However, since the middle of the 20th century, my country’s relationship with Japan has been characterized by trust and unfailing support,” he said.
“Japan has acted with compassion and in accordance with international law, and has more actively and more positively engaged the region and the world.”
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