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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the ceremonial signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (L-seated) and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. (R-seated) at the Malacanang Palace on Monday, July 08, 2024. The signing was also witnessed by Japan Defense Minister Kihira Minomura (L) and Foreign Sec. Enrique Manalo (R). KJ Rosales, PPA pool

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Philippines, Japan sign landmark defense pact

Agence France-Presse

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172042313972220240708-ph-japan-raa-PPA--10.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the ceremonial signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (L-seated) and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. (R-seated) at the Malacanang Palace on Monday, July 08, 2024. The signing was also witnessed by Japan Defense Minister Kihira Minomura (L) and Foreign Sec. Enrique Manalo (R). KJ Rosales, PPA pool"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the ceremonial signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (L-seated) and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. (R-seated) at the Malacanang Palace on Monday, July 08, 2024. The signing was also witnessed by Japan Defense Minister Kihira Minomura (L) and Foreign Sec. Enrique Manalo (R). <em>KJ Rosales, PPA pool</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>2nd UPDATE</strong>) — The Philippines and Japan signed a key defense pact on Monday that will allow the deployment of troops on each other&#x27;s territory, as they boost ties in the face of China&#x27;s growing assertiveness.</p><p>The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) was finalized in Manila, where Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa are holding talks with their Philippine counterparts Gilberto Teodoro and Enrique Manalo.</p><p>The accord, which Tokyo and Manila began negotiating in November, provides the legal framework for Japan and the Philippines to send defense personnel to each other&#x27;s territory for training and other operations. </p><p>Teodoro and Kamikawa signed the agreement at the presidential palace, presidential communications secretary Cheloy Garafil told AFP.</p><p>The Philippines and Japan are longtime allies of the United States, which has been strengthening its alliances from Canberra to Tokyo to counter China&#x27;s growing military might and influence in the region.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/1/japan-conveys-concern-to-china-over-military-activity-1617">READ: Japan conveys concern to China over military activity</a></div><p>Chinese officials have accused the United States of trying to create an Asia-Pacific version of NATO.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/4/11/beijing-says-us-japan-smeared-and-attacked-china-1608">READ: Beijing says US, Japan &#x27;smeared and attacked&#x27; China</a></div><p>The signing of the RAA comes as China&#x27;s growing saber-rattling towards Taiwan and over the South China Sea fuels fears of a potential conflict that could drag in the United States.</p><p>There have been escalating confrontations at sea between Chinese and Philippine ships as Beijing steps up efforts to push its claims to nearly all of the strategic waterway.</p><p>The most serious in a number of incidents happened on June 17 when <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/6/20/chinese-sailors-wield-sticks-axe-in-disputed-sea-clash-with-philippines-1234">Chinese coast guard personnel wielding knives, sticks and an axe surrounded and boarded three Philippine navy boats</a> during a resupply mission to Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.</p><p>A Filipino sailor lost his thumb in the incident.</p><p>Tokyo and Beijing are also at loggerheads over Japan-controlled disputed islands in the East China Sea.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/5/27/japan-spots-china-ships-near-senkaku-islands-for-record-158th-day-1326">READ: Japan spots China ships near Senkaku Islands for record 158th day</a></div><p>Japan invaded and occupied the Philippines during World War II, but the two countries have since grown closer due to trade and investment, and more recently, to counter a resurgent China.</p><p>Japan is a key supplier of security equipment to the Philippines, including patrol vessels for its coast guard and a coastal radar surveillance system.</p><p>Tokyo&#x27;s ambassador to Manila, Kazuya Endo, flagged in a speech on Thursday &quot;significant developments&quot; in Japan&#x27;s defense equipment supplies to the Philippines.</p><div><strong>&#x27;LINCHPIN&#x27;</strong></div><p>Tokyo has signed similar reciprocal access agreements with Britain and Australia in recent years.</p><p>The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia and plans to pursue one with France.</p><p>The RAA between Manila and Tokyo was important because it would enable the Philippines &quot;to enhance our interoperability with like-minded partners&quot;, said Manila-based geopolitical analyst Don McLain Gill.</p><p>&quot;This would also complement what we are trying to do in terms of enhancing our security partnerships within the US hub and spokes network.&quot;</p><p>The Philippines has been a key focus of US efforts to build an arc of alliances, owing to its position in the South China Sea and proximity to Taiwan, which China claims as its own.</p><p>Philippine support would be crucial for the United States in the event of any conflict.</p><p>Leaders from Japan, the Philippines and the United States had their first trilateral summit in April aimed at boosting defense ties in Washington.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/world/2024/4/12/beijing-slams-us-japan-philippines-summit-says-s-china-sea-actions-lawful-627">READ: Beijing slams US-Japan-Philippines summit, says S. China Sea actions &#x27;lawful&#x27;</a></div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/3/19/blinken-us-stands-by-ironclad-commitments-to-defend-philippines-1432">READ: Blinken says US stands by &#x27;ironclad&#x27; commitments to defend Philippines</a></div><p>It was held on the heels of four-way military drills that included Australia in the South China Sea, riling Beijing.</p><p>Japan, wary about possible future changes in US policy in the region, was also seeking &quot;to play a larger role&quot; as an independent and stabilizing force, Gill the analyst, said.</p><p>&quot;The Japanese would like to impress upon the Americans that Japan is the linchpin of US security presence, military presence here in the region, and of course, the most reliable ally of the United States,&quot; said Renato Cruz De Castro, professor for international studies at De La Salle University in Manila.</p><div><strong>SUPPORT FROM PH SENATORS</strong></div><p>The RAA was backed by Philippine senators, with Senate President Pro Tempore and Senate Committee on National Defense Chair Jinggoy Estrada stressing that its ratification will be prioritized when they open their third regular session later this month.</p><p>&quot;Any strategic partnership that strengthens our country’s close security relationship with a regional partner is an encouraging and welcome development,&quot; said Estrada. &quot;The signing of the RAA demonstrates the mutual commitment of Japan and the Philippines to uphold a rules-based international order, particularly in response to regional security threats.&quot;</p><p>Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri expressed readiness to support its ratification by the Senate.</p><p>&quot;It needs Senate Ratification and we will support it absolutely,&quot; he said.</p><p>Senate President Francis Escudero also welcomed the signing of the RAA.</p><p>&quot;Anything that strengthens and increases our military&#x27;s capability is a deterrence to a possible conflagration. I fully support this agreement/arrangement,&quot; Escudero said in a text message to reporters.</p><p>However, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III opposed the agreement.</p><p>&quot;The Philippines should be entering more agreements of an economic nature, instead of a military nature, which would allow us to sell Philippine-made and Philippine-grown products/items to other countries,&quot; he said. &quot;Sana ganyan ang laman ng mga agreements natin. Produkto hindi pulbura.&quot; -- <strong>with a report from RG Cruz, ABS-CBN News</strong></p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_3-XJH4llKQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><br/></div>

<p>Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Monday signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).</p>

Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, Jr. and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on Monday signed the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA).

Philippines, Japan sign landmark defense pact

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Philippines, Japan sign landmark defense pact

Agence France-Presse,

Cecil Morella

Published Jul 08, 2024 11:20 AM PHT

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Updated Jul 08, 2024 05:29 PM PHT

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