The Philippines and Japan on Monday signed the landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), which aims to heighten defense cooperation between the two countries in the middle of the escalating tensions in the South China Sea.
Together with key government officials, President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr. witnessed the signing of the deal at the Heroes’ Hall of Malacañan Palace.
The signing came after the courtesy call of Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru on Marcos.
The first formal negotiations on the RAA were held in Tokyo in November last year. It was led by the Department of National Defense (DND) along with the other delegations from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).
A virtual line-by-line reading of the RAA main text, the Agreed Minutes, and two records of discussions were held on June 11, according to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO).
Earlier reports said the agreement would allow more Japanese forces to join annual military exercises involving the Philippines and the US, including the “Balikatan” exercises.
The deal will also allow Japanese forces to provide humanitarian assistance to the Philippines when needed.
The newly-signed agreement still needs the ratification of the Philippine Senate and the National Legislature of Japan before it takes effect.
Japan has been vocal in expressing alarm over the rising tensions in the South China Sea, noting that the peace and stability in the region is an international concern.
The Philippines, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have been embroiled in years-long territorial disputes over resource-rich features in the South China Sea.
Beijing has since claimed the waters nearly in its entirety despite an international tribunal ruling on a case filed by the Philippine government, which invalidated such assertion.
Similar to that, Japan has its long-running territorial disputes with China.
Foreign Minister Kamikawa and Defense Minister Kihara are in the Philippines for the 2nd Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2), which is considered as the highest consultative mechanism that aims to deepen security and defense policy coordination between Manila and Tokyo.
The RAA will be like the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) the Philippines has with the US.
Marcos, however, has guaranteed that the RAA is “not the same” as the VFA with the US in terms of the custody of erring Japanese servicemen on Philippine soil. —KBK, GMA Integrated News
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