Japan and the Philippines have entered a reciprocal access agreement, marking the start of enhanced collaboration to strengthen the Philippines’ defense capabilities.
Formalized by Ma. Theresa Lazaro, Philippine foreign affairs secretary, and Endo Kazuya, Japanese ambassador to the Philippines, with Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro in attendance, during a recent ceremony in Manila, the pact will not only improve military interoperability between the two nations’ armed forces but also affirm “mutual readiness to decisively respond to emerging challenges and opportunities,” Endo said.
The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs says the RAA, which comes into force on Sept. 11, provides the countries’ armed forces a legal and administrative framework covering the entry and exit of defense forces, vessels, aircraft and equipment for training and other joint activities.
Lazaro noted Tokyo’s “clear commitment” to helping the Philippine government improve its capabilities amid its efforts to protect its sovereignty. Meanwhile, Teodoro said the defense deal will enhance stability in the Asia Pacific and the broader Indo-Pacific. “It also provides deterrence for those actors who may not see things the way we do and may not share our values. It provides resilience because not only will we be working with others, but we will be working with each other, close neighbors,” he said.
The RAA further solidifies the close relations between the two nations. In June, the Philippines was named a recipient of Japan’s Official Security Assistance scheme, which amounts to $56 million for the fiscal year 2025. Earlier, the defense forces of the two countries conducted a joint maritime exercise in the South China Sea amid China’s intensifying claims in the waters.
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