THE Philippines and Japan governments will hold their second 2+2 ministerial meeting in Manila today, July 8.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Defense Secretary Gibo Teodoro will meet with their Japanese counterparts Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara to discuss key regional issues during the meeting.
The meeting is held amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea due to aggressive Chinese actions and a potential new security pact between Philippines and Japan, or the Reciprocal Access Agreement.
rmed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Lt.Gen.Romeo Brawner Jr. has earlier said the RAA allowing the deployment of troops to each other’s territory may be signed during the 2+2 ministerial meeting.
RAA is important because it will allow Japanese forces to come into our country to conduct training with Philippine forces. It will also allow our troops to go to Japan to train with them.
Manila and Tokyo have been negotiating on the agreement since last year.
Aside from enhancing maritime cooperation, the RAA, which is quite similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States, will also facilitate the procedures and guidelines when Filipino troops visit Japan for training and joint military exercises and vice versa.
It would also give the two countries greater capability in terms of security, disaster preparedness and humanitarian assistance.
Earlier, Japan’s top diplomat said there is a need for stronger Japanese and Philippine cooperation to help “strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law.”
Kamikawa said aside from the security front which saw Tokyo supplying Manila with four long-range air defense radars, coastal surveillance radars and offshore patrol vessels, the ministerial meeting will also tackle how to further enhance economic ties.
