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 by Stephen Carlson Washington (UPI) Oct 1, 2018
The 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade and the Philippines armed forces began exercise KAMANDAG 2 at Subic Bay International Airport on Monday. KAMANDAG 2 will be performed October 1-10 at several locations on and off the island of Luzon in the Philippines. In addition to the United States and the Philippines, Japan will be participating in the exercise. The Philippine-led exercise will include military-to-military exchanges with U.S. forces, with the focus primarily on counter-terrorism and disaster relief. KAMANDAG 2 is meant to enhance cooperation and interoperability between Philippine and the U.S. military. Exercises will include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, an amphibious landing, live fires, close air support, survival training, urban operation and combat medical training. "In its first iteration last year, KAMANDAG gave rise to many inaugural advancements between our militaries," Brig. Gen. Christopher A. McPhillips, commanding general for the 3rd MEB, said in a statement. "I'm looking forward to all that we're going to achieve together this year." The exercise will include community relations events such as engineering and construction projects such as a school and two daycare centers in Ternate, Cavite. U.S. and Philippine military medical teams will teach hundreds of Ternate residents about medical skills like CPR and dental hygiene. KAMANDAG is an acronym for the Filipino phrase "Kaagapay Ng Mga Mandirigma Ng Dagat," which translates to "Cooperation of Warriors of the Sea."
Japan PM Abe appoints new defence minister in cabinet reshuffle Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, who was reappointed, announced the lineup for the new cabinet, with key ministers including finance minister Taro Aso and foreign minister Taro Kono staying on. But Itsunori Onodera, defence minister since August 2017, was replaced by Takeshi Iwaya, 61, a veteran politician who has had short stints in roles including vice minister for defence and foreign affairs. The reshuffle follows Abe's reelection as leader of his Liberal Democratic Party last month, which puts him on track to become Japan's longest-serving prime minister. "It was no surprise that Abe focused on stability rather than a challenge," said Tomoaki Iwai, professor of Japanese politics at Nihon University. "Abe prioritised imminent tasks such as a fight against deflation so that he can consolidate his power before tackling a revision of the constitution," Iwai told AFP. After winning a historic third term as LDP head last month, Abe vowed to press ahead with plans to revise Japan's pacifist constitution, which remains a controversial proposition. Iwaya takes over as Japan continues to focus on the threat posed by North Korea despite easing tensions on the Korean peninsula and international negotiations on Pyongyang's denuclearisation. In an annual defence review released in August, the defence ministry said North Korea remained a "serious and imminent threat". Japan's 2018 defence white paper also took aim at China's rise as a military power, saying Beijing was sparking "strong security concerns in the region and international community, including Japan". Iwai said the new defence chief was something of an unknown quantity. "Iwaya is not a novice on defence but is also not as experienced as Onodera," he said. "His capability as defence chief remains unknown." Newcomers to Abe's cabinet include Satsuki Katayama, the new minister for promoting local economies, who will be the sole female member of the cabinet. Abe's previous cabinet had two female ministers.
Vatican, China in hush negotiations on 'underground' bishops: sources Vatican City (AFP) Sept 28, 2018 After clinching a historic deal, the Vatican and China are involved in fresh negotiations over the fate of "underground" bishops who remained faithful to the pope for decades despite pressure from Beijing, sources say. The Vatican hopes the negotiations following Saturday's deal - seen as paving the way for rapprochement between the Catholic Church and Beijing - will lead China to soften its approach to those who swore allegiance to the pontiff for decades. A Vatican source and a Chinese pries ... read more
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