Ched Rick Gatchalian

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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​Stronger defense ties between PH, Japan eyed as RAA takes effect September - DND

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<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/175499637981120240708-ph-japan-raa-PPA-.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><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.<em> KJ Rosales, PPA pool </em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) — The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, a treaty seeking to boost the military cooperation of the two countries, is set to enter into force on September 11.</p><p>This would come almost a month after the exchange of diplomatic notes between the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, held at DFA office in Pasay City on Tuesday, August 12.</p><p>&quot;Thirty days from now, pursuant to Paragraph 2 of Article 29, the RAA will enter into force. Not only will it be an important step in our concerted efforts to enhance our sixty-nine years of bilateral relations, it will also signify Japan&#x27;s clear commitment to the Philippines&#x27; efforts to advance our defense capabilities in support of the Philippines&#x27; firm assertion of its sovereignty and sovereign rights in today&#x27;s fast evolving regional security landscape,&quot; Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro said.</p><p>The Japanese Embassy in Manila emphasized that the RAA will &quot;further promote bilateral security and defense cooperation, enhance interoperability between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, and contribute to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.&quot;</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/6/6/japan-s-national-diet-ratifies-defense-agreement-with-ph-1604">READ: Japan’s National Diet ratifies defense agreement with PH</a></div><p>&quot;Japan recognizes the Philippines as an indispensable partner, strategically positioned at the heart of the Indo-Pacific and united through our shared core values of freedom, democracy, and the rule of law,&quot; Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya added.</p><p>The RAA is seen to &quot;significantly deepen&quot; the bilateral defense and cooperation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), the Department of Defense (DND) said in a statement.</p><p>The RAA serves as a legal basis for the Philippines and Japan&#x27;s troops to enter each other&#x27;s territory to hold joint military drills.</p><p>&quot;The entry into force of the RAA is a logical and necessary step forward in the long and meaningful history of Philippine-Japan relations,&quot; said Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro. &quot;It reflects our strong people-to-people ties, shared democratic values, and a common purpose grounded in peace, security, and mutual respect.&quot;</p><p>Emphasizing the agreement&#x27;s role in improving the two countries&#x27; commitment to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific Region, Teodoro said President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba laid the &quot;groundwork for stronger collaboration&quot; among the two nations.</p><p>&quot;It also serves as a deterrent to those who do not share our values,&quot; he added. &quot;It strengthens resilience — not only through defense cooperation, but also in areas such as industrial partnerships, infrastructure development, technology sharing, and knowledge exchange.&quot;</p><div> </div><div><strong>&#x27;PRESERVING WORLD ORDER&#x27;</strong></div><p>&quot;Ultimately, this agreement ensures that our most potent instruments of national power — our armed forces — can operate together, not to disrupt the rules-based international order, but to uphold and preserve it against unilateral attempts to reshape it for narrow interests,&quot; Teodoro explained.</p><p>While Teodoro did not mention China initially, he did later during an interview with the media.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/2-chinese-ships-collide-after-chasing-philippine-vessel-in-bajo-de-masinloc-pcg-1102">READ: 2 Chinese vessels collide while chasing Philippine boat in Bajo de Masinloc -- PCG</a></div><p>&quot;When we band together against some country, for example China, we share the same challenges with Japan. And there&#x27;s no denying that and it&#x27;s useless to deny it because it&#x27;s the truth. We share the same challenges not only with Japan, but also with Australia and New Zealand … Canada too, and France too. Because they stand out as the summa cum laudes of revisionism in international law and bad behavior,&quot; he explained.</p><p>The Chinese Embassy recently accused the Philippines of being a &quot;troublemaker&quot; after Teodoro&#x27;s remarks during an interview.</p><p>&quot;I don&#x27;t want to answer a blatant lie and glorify it. And everybody knows the truth really. Why will we pick a fight? That&#x27;s what the President said yesterday, who in his or her right mind will initiate a conflict when you are a smaller country. Common sense, unless they don&#x27;t have any,&quot; Teodoro said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/8/11/marcos-ph-vessels-won-t-back-out-from-scarborough-after-fresh-incident-with-china-1159">READ: PH vessels won’t back out from Scarborough after fresh incident with China -- Marcos</a></div><p>Teodoro also says he has no plans of changing his tone when it comes to standing up for Philippine rights and sovereignty, as is his right as a Filipino and his obligation as Defense Secretary.</p><p>&quot;I mean, if the truth hurts, then it&#x27;s your problem not our problem. Secondly, it&#x27;s not only us who they have problems with, even in Europe they have problems and they label everybody who stands up to them as a provocateur,&quot; he added.</p><p>Teodoro said he is hoping for a speedy conclusion to the component agreements — including access agreements, logistics and the constitution of different bodies — relevant to its enforcement and implementation.</p><p>Signed on July 8, 2024 during the Philippines–Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (&quot;2+2&quot;), the RAA provides the legal framework for the entry and movement of defense forces, vessels, and aircraft of both countries for joint activities, including training, exercises, and humanitarian assistance.</p><p>The Philippine Senate ratified the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) in December 2024, while the Japanese Diet approved it in June 2025.</p><p>The Defense department clarified last year that the RAA with Japan is <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2024/11/25/ph-japan-raa-not-a-military-basing-agreement-dnd-chief-1536">not a military-basing deal</a>, which is prohibited under Philippine laws.</p>

<p>The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, a treaty seeking to boost the military cooperation of the two countries, is set to enter into force on September 11.</p>

The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan, a treaty seeking to boost the military cooperation of the two countries, is set to enter into force on September 11.

​Stronger defense ties between PH, Japan eyed as RAA takes effect September: DND

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​Stronger defense ties between PH, Japan eyed as RAA takes effect September: DND

Ched Rick Gatchalian,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 12, 2025 07:11 PM PHT

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Updated August 12, 2025 09:35 PM PHT

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Stronger defense ties between PH, Japan eyed as RAA takes effect September: DND

Stronger defense ties between PH, Japan eyed as RAA takes effect September: DND