The ceremonial signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, which will enable forces from both countries to undergo training and joint exercises, happened at the Malacañang Palace today, July 8.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the RAA after the joint courtesy call with Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru in the palace on Monday.
The RAA was initially discussed during the Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting last April 2022 at the "two-plus-two" meeting.
Meanwhile, the first formal negotiation was led by the Department of National Defense (DND) together with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), which was held in Tokyo in November 2023.
This was followed by the virtual line-by-line reading of the RAA main text, agreed minutes, and two record discussions last June.
The Japanese Foreign Minister and Defense Minister will also attend the 2nd Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2).
This meeting is the highest form of consultative mechanism to deepen security and defense coordination and security cooperation between the two countries.
Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya, reiterated the importance of RAA during the 70th anniversary of Japan Self Defense Force, as a response to the actions of China that disrupts peace within the region.
