MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines' military chief said Thursday he hoped a key defense pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other's territory will be signed at security talks next week. "We are hoping that during that meeting, the RAA, or the reciprocal access agreement, will be signed," military chief General Romeo Brawner told reporters. The Philippines and Japan began negotiating the pact in November. The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia and plans to pursue one with France. Leaders from Japan, the Philippines and the United States held their first trilateral summit in April aimed at boosting defense ties in Washington.
