THE Senate yesterday ratified an agreement between the Philippines and Japan, that will allow their armed forces to visit each other’s countries.
The military welcomed the ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), saying it will help address security challenges in the contested West Philippine Sea in the South China Sea.
The RAA, signed in July, provides the legal framework for the conduct of combat training between Filipino and Japanese troops in the Philippines and in Japan. It is similar to the 1998 Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) between the Philippines and the US and the 2007 Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (SOFVA) between Philippines and Australia.
It is Japan’s first defense agreement forged in Asia, and the third following Australia and the United Kingdom. It will allow both Philippines’ and Japan’ military troops to enter each other’s territory for joint military exercises.
Senate President Francis Escudero said the RAA will strengthen the defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan and enhance inter-operability of the countries’ armed forces, while serving as deterrent to acts of aggression of other countries in the West Philippine Sea.
All 19 senators present on Monday’s session voted to ratify the deal, with Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo in attendance.
The Chinese Embassy in Manila did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Both the Philippines and Japan, two of the United States’ closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as an increasingly assertive China in the East and South China Seas, and voicing concern over tension across the Taiwan Strait.
China claims much of the South China Sea, a conduit for the bulk of northeast Asia’s trade with the rest of the world in which Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
Japan has a separate maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea, where the neighbors have repeatedly faced off.
The RAA outlines the policies on entry and departure, movement, access to facilities, and professional practice of the visiting force and civilian component for cooperative activities and the rules governing the jurisdiction over the actions of the visiting force and civilian component.
It also further affirms not only the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan but also their mutual goal to enhance contribution to regional and international peace and stability, as well.
AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla described the ratification as a “significant step in strengthening defense cooperation between the two nations.”
Padilla said the agreement provides “substantial benefits” for the Armed Forces, particularly in the field of joint exercises.
“In terms of our territorial defense posture, the RAA will bolster our maritime domain awareness capabilities through technology transfers, intelligence sharing, and strengthened collaboration with Japan, a country with advanced defense systems,” she said.
“This partnership will help the AFP address security challenges, especially in critical areas such as the West Philippine Sea, and further solidify our preparedness and resilience in safeguarding national sovereignty,” she added.
Rear Adm. Roy Vincent Trinidad, Navy spokesman for the West Philippine Sea, said the RAA “allows for closer coordination and collaboration between our nations and our navies.”
“For external defense, the RAA will help improve our maritime domain awareness capabilities and information sharing with a partner nation,” Trinidad also said. – With Reuters
