The Japanese government is eyeing deeper bilateral security and defense collaboration with the Philippines through the recently ratified Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).
“The RAA is a legal framework that contributes to taking national security and defense cooperation to a higher level. It will also facilitate joint training and other cooperative activities between units of both countries and enhance interoperability,” Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya said in an interview Monday evening.
Earlier this month, Japan’s Diet ratified a landmark defense pact, paving the way for enhanced cooperation.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) establishes a legal framework allowing troops from both nations to enter each other’s territory for joint military exercises.
Kazuya then continued, “As the specific plans for our cooperation will need to be discussed after the ratification of RAA, I would like to refrain from giving details at this stage, but in any way, Japan hopes to further strengthen security and defense cooperation between Japan and the Philippines through training and other activities between the two countries’ forces.”
The RAA was signed on July 8, 2024 following negotiations on shared security interests, freedom of navigation and humanitarian cooperation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the agreement on November 5, and was approved by the Philippine Senate on December 16.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Defense Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro earlier agreed to further strengthen cooperation between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the Philippine military amid China’s intensified military activities in the East and South China seas.
