In a significant move to bolster defense and security collaboration, the Philippine Senate has approved Senate Resolution No. 1248, ratifying the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan. The signing ceremony, witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at the Malacañan Palace on July 8, 2024, marks a pivotal moment in the bilateral relations between the two nations. The RAA is designed to facilitate mutual military visits, enabling Filipino and Japanese forces to engage in joint training and exercises, thereby enhancing their interoperability.
The Department of National Defense (DND) expressed its support for the Senate’s decision, emphasizing that the RAA will deepen defense and security cooperation with Japan. The agreement awaits approval from Japan’s National Diet to become fully effective and binding. Once implemented, it is expected to significantly expand defense cooperation between the two countries, addressing shared security challenges.
The DND highlighted that the RAA underscores the Philippines’ commitment to maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Philippine Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad also praised the ratification, noting that it would foster closer collaboration between the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and the Philippine Navy (PN). He stressed the importance of the RAA in preparing their forces for external defense and enhancing maritime domain awareness through information sharing with Japan.
Similarly, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla lauded the agreement, pointing out its benefits in terms of training opportunities, joint exercises, and interoperability. She noted that the RAA would strengthen the Philippines’ territorial defense posture by facilitating technology transfers, intelligence sharing, and collaboration with Japan, known for its advanced defense systems.