By Robina Asido

Eighty years after the Second World War ended, the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that allows the entry of Japanese forces in the Philippines for military training was finally ratified by the Diet on Friday.

In a statement, Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano welcomes the ratification of RAA between the Philippines and Japan.

The RAA aims to improve the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Japan Self-Defense Forces for more extensive military cooperation and exercises which will bolster the security and defense of both countries.

"We welcome today’s approval of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan by the House of Councillors, which completes the approval process in the Japanese Diet," she said.

Garcia-Albano said "the RAA is a testament to the trust and enduring friendship between the Philippines and Japan."

"It will enhance our ability to work closely together in promoting a rules-based order governed by international law," she said.

"We thank the Government and people of Japan for their steadfast support and continued collaboration. We look forward to the full implementation of this agreement and to building an even more resilient and forward-looking partnership in the years ahead," she added.

In a statement, the Department of National Defense welcomed the approval of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) by the Diet.

"The RAA allows the Philippines and Japan to work more closely together on defense and security matters. This agreement follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to strengthen partnerships with like-minded countries," it stated.

"It is a step forward in building a trusted and reliable defense relationship, helping both countries contribute to a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific region," the DND added.

The Philippine Senate ratified the RAA following the public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations which was attended by Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. last November 25, 2024.

The RAA was signed by Teodoro and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa in the presence of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara during the ministers' visit to the Philippines on July 8, 2024. DMS