Philippines, Japan Ink Military Deal Amid China Tensions

The Philippines and Japan have signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will allow their troops to visit each other’s countries for joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida witnessed the signing of the RAA on Friday, during the latter’s official visit to Manila. The RAA is similar to a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), which the Philippines has with the United States and Australia.

Marcos said the RAA will enhance the security and defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, which are both maritime nations facing common challenges in the region.

“We are cognizant of the benefits of having this arrangement both to our personnel and maintaining peace and stability in our region,” Marcos said in a statement.

Kishida said the RAA will strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries, as well as their cooperation with other allies, such as the United States and Australia.

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“We agreed to further promote the rule of law and freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea and the East China Sea, and to oppose any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion,” Kishida said in a press conference.

The RAA is the result of several rounds of negotiations that began in November 2023, following the bilateral meeting between Marcos and Kishida in Tokyo. The RAA will need to be ratified by the Senate before it can take effect.

The Philippines and Japan have been strengthening their security ties in recent years, amid rising tensions in the region due to China’s assertive actions in the disputed waters. The two countries have also signed a memorandum to simplify procedures for assigning defense personnel to each other’s country for disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.

Japan is one of the Philippines’ major trading partners and sources of official development assistance. It has also provided the Philippines with security assistance, such as patrol vessels, radar systems, and aircraft.