MANILA, Philippines – A key defense pact with Japan was ratified by the Philippine Senate on Monday, affirming the strategic partnership between the two countries, and enhancing cooperation “in the maritime domain amid shared security challenges,” the Senate said in a statement.
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) was unanimously approved by the Senate more than five months since its signing in Manila in July 8.
President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. ratified the agreement on November 5 and has submitted it to the Senate for concurrence in accordance with the Constitution.
Article VII, Section 21 of the Philippine Constitution states that: “No treaty or international agreement shall be valid and effective unless concurred in by at least two-thirds of all the members of the Senate.”
In a separate statement, the Department of National Defense (DND) said that it is looking forward to the implementation of the RAA, which will enable the two militaries to expand its defense cooperation and “build trust and confidence amongst each other amid shared security challenges.”
“The RAA is set to be approved by the Japanese government's National Diet, in accordance with Japan's domestic legal process, to render it valid and binding upon both our countries,” the statement read.
“Pursuing collaborative partnerships with like-minded nations is essential as we continue to fortify our own defense capabilities. The RAA with Japan is a testament to the Philippines' unequivocal commitment to peace, security, and stability of the Indo-Pacific region,” DND added.
Meanwhile, Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines ENDO Kazuya expressed his gratitude for the Senate’s concurrence of the RAA and expressed optimism that the agreement will facilitate the implementation of cooperative activities between the forces of the two countries, further promoting security and defense cooperation, and firmly support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, Endo said.
During his courtesy call to Senate President Francis Escudero on Monday, Endo affirmed Japan’s commitment to work closely with the Philippines to further deepen Japan-Philippines relations in time for the 70th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026.
The RAA defense pact with the Philippines is the first to be signed by Japan in Asia. Japan signed similar agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.
The pact outlines provisions on entry and departure, movement, access to facilities, and professional practice of the visiting force and civilian component for the purpose of cooperative activities, as well as the rules governing the jurisdiction over the actions of the Visiting Force and Civilian Component, the Senate said.
Citing the RAA's importance, the Senate said the agreement would "enhance the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan by enabling more in-depth practical military cooperation and exercises between both countries.
