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 the landmark defense pact, paving the way for enhanced cooperation. The RAA provides a legal foundation allowing troops from both nations to enter each other’s territory for joint military exercises and other activities.
‘‘As the specific plans for our cooperation will need to be discussed following the ratification of the RAA, I would like to refrain from giving details at this stage,’’ Kazuya said. ‘‘But in any case, 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 agreement was signed on July 8, 2024, following negotiations centered on shared security interests, freedom of navigation, and humanitarian cooperation.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ratified the deal on November 5, and the Philippine Senate approved it on December 16.
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro earlier agreed to bolster military ties between Japan’s
Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, amid rising tensions and increased military activity by China in the East and South China seas.
The South China Sea issue, according to a Japanese official, is directly tied to the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific and is a legitimate concern of the international community.
Kazuya reaffirmed Japan’s solidarity with the Philippines in promoting a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. ‘‘The Philippines is an important strategic partner of Japan for peace and stability in the region, as it is a maritime nation and a neighbor that shares sea lanes with Japan and faces similar strategic challenges at sea,’’ he said.
‘‘We recognize that the principles of freedom of navigation, adherence to international law, and respect for sovereignty are essential to the continued prosperity and security of our peoples,’’ he added.
In support of this shared vision, Japan has participated in eight maritime cooperative activities (MCAs) conducted within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). ‘‘A few days ago, in Japan, Coast Guard agencies from Japan, the Philippines, and the United States conducted a trilateral exercise,’’
Kazuya said. ‘‘Japan will continue to cooperate with the international community, including the Philippines and the United States, to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law.’’
He also emphasized the need for peaceful dispute resolution grounded in international law, alongside efforts to steadily strengthen maritime security in the region.
On the last Friday of June, the Coast Guards of Japan, the United States, and the Philippines held their first-ever joint exercises in Japan. The drill, held in Kagoshima Bay in southwestern Japan, simulated a scenario in which a U.S. cargo ship and a Philippine fishing boat collided in international waters south of Kyushu, causing a fire and prompting a rescue mission.
Patrol boats from all three countries participated in the mock firefighting and rescue operations. ‘‘The drill was meaningful as it promoted mutual understanding and trust among on-site staff,’’said Naofumi Tsumura of Japan’s 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters in Kagoshima.