MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines welcomed the approval of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan by the House of Councillors, completing the approval process in the Japanese Diet, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said.
In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene J. Garcia-Albano mentioned that the RAA is a “testament to the trust and enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan.”
“It will enhance our ability to work closely together in promoting a rules-based order governed by international law,” she added.
Earlier, both countries agreed to fast-track procedures for the “early entry” into force of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan said.
This was discussed during informal talks between Prime Minister ISHIBA Shigeru and President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in Lao People’s Democratic Republic during the ASEAN-related Summit meetings last year.
The Philippines and Japan signed the crucial military agreement on July 8, 2024 as the two nations’ foreign and defense ministers met during the “2+2” meeting in Manila, following discussions during then Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s visit to the Philippines last year.
In a statement from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, it stated that the RAA “will facilitate the implementation of cooperative activities, such as joint exercises and disaster relief between Japan and the Philippines and improve interoperability between the forces of the two countries.”
Through the agreement, it is expected that it “will further promote security and defense cooperation between the two countries and firmly support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, Ambassador Garcia-Albano expressed appreciation to the Japanese Government and its citizens for the “steadfast support and continued collaboration” between the two countries.
“We look forward to the full implementation of this agreement and to building an even more resilient and forward-looking partnership in the years ahead,” Garcia-Albano stated.
