Push Admin

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. joins the second session of the ASEAN-Japan Friendship and Cooperation Commemorative Summit together with other ASEAN leaders in Tokyo, Japan on Sunday, December 17, 2023. Yummie Dingding, PPA pool

Article (news)

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<p><span data-teams="true" id="isPasted"></span>MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday assured Japan that he does not expect “any serious objections” to the ratification of the Philippines’ Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, after an envoy brought up the pending agreements on the sidelines of a meeting in Malacañang.</p><p>Marcos Jr. gave the statement after Matsuda Kenichi, charges d’affaires of the Embassy of Japan, approached him after his meeting with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in the Palace.</p><p>“I don’t know [of] any serious objections,” Marcos Jr. told the diplomat.</p><p>National democratic activist organizations like Bagong Alyansang Makabayan have opposed the deal, saying in November 2023 that positioning Japanese troops and equipment in the Philippines to counter China &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/11/05/23/a-quick-look-at-phs-defense-cooperation-deal-with-japan">might actually do the opposite — justify even more military actions from China</a>.&quot; </p><p>The Makabayan bloc at the House has also voiced opposition to the agreement, saying &quot;endangers our population [in exchange for] scraps of their military hardware.&quot; </p><p>But the ratification of treaties <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/24/ph-japan-raa-not-yet-submitted-to-senate-for-ratification-escudero-1615">only needs concurrence from the Senate</a>, and not the House, where Marcos Jr. also enjoys majority support.</p><p>“It’s just that when the budget is in deliberation, everything has to stop because otherwise, we will be [in] 2025 with no budget. It will be very difficult if that happens,” <span id="isPasted" style="caret-color:rgb(65, 65, 65);color:rgb(65, 65, 65)">Marcos Jr. told Matsuda on Wednesday.</span></p><p>“They will prioritize the budget and then take up all the other business afterwards,” he  added.</p><p>The Philippines has been ramping up its engagements with security partners, including Japan, in the face of tension with China over the West Philippine Sea.</p><p>Apart from the RAA, Manila is working on defense agreements with Paris and with Berlin.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/7/8/why-the-philippine-japan-defense-pact-matters-1820">READ: Why the Philippine-Japan defense pact matters</a></div><div><strong>JAPANESE TROOPS TO GET ACCESS TO PHILIPPINE FACILITIES</strong></div><p>In July, the Philippines and Japan signed the RAA, a military agreement that will allow troops from both countries to operate and train on each other’s territory.</p><p>Last month, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. said that the military access deal, which will provide a legal framework to the presence of Filipino and Japanese troops’ in both countries, would soon be submitted to the Senate.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/24/ph-japan-raa-not-yet-submitted-to-senate-for-ratification-escudero-1615">PH-Japan RAA not yet submitted to Senate for ratification: Escudero</a></div><p>The deal is expected to bolster the military cooperation between the two countries as China continues to forcibly claim nearly the entire South China Sea, a strategic waterway where trillions-worth of goods pass through annually.</p><div><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/13/japan-s-new-pm-vows-closer-ties-with-philippines-1246">Japan&#x27;s new PM vows closer ties with Philippines</a></div>

<p>President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Japan that he does not expect “any serious objections” to the ratification of the Philippines’ Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, after an envoy brought up the pending agreements on the sidelines of a meeting in Malacañang.</p>

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assured Japan that he does not expect “any serious objections” to the ratification of the Philippines’ Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, after an envoy brought up the pending agreements on the sidelines of a meeting in Malacañang.

Marcos Jr. tells Japan: ‘I don’t know of any serious objections’ vs RAA military deal

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Marcos Jr. tells Japan: ‘I don’t know of any serious objections’ vs RAA military deal

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published November 20, 2024 05:47 PM PHT

Read More:

Ferdinand Marcos Jr

Japan

RAA

military

ABSNews

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

ABS-CBN Newsletter

Your go-to source for the latest news, entertainment highlights, exclusive interviews, and updates on your favorite Kapamilya stars.

Sign Up

I have read and agree to the Terms and Privacy Policy.

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.