Japan Diet approves Reciprocal Access pact with Philippines
The Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed the approval of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) by Japan’s National Diet on Friday.
“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 said in a statement.
The RAA, which was ratified by the Senate last December, allows the former wartime enemies to deploy troops and equipment on each other’s territory.
The historic RAA was signed in Manila last July 8 after six months of negotiations.
Japan has a similar deal with the United Kingdom and Australia.
Aside from the RAA, the Philippines has similar visiting forces agreements with the United States, Australia and New Zealand.
According to the Kyodo News Service, the RAA eases restrictions on the movement of personnel between the two forces to facilitate joint drills and disaster relief operations, making the Philippines Japan’s third RAA partner after Australia and Britain.
The House of Councillors, Japan’s upper chamber, approved the pact after the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of the Diet, endorsed it last month.
Tokyo and Manila share concerns over Beijing’s maritime activities, as Chinese vessels have clashed with Philippine ships near disputed shoals in the South China Sea and repeatedly entered waters around the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
On Friday, Japan’s upper house also approved an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement with Italy to streamline procedures for providing supplies and services such as food, fuel, ammunition and repair work between their forces.
Last month, Japan Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba visited Manila to begin talks on two other agreements
The first one, called an acquisition and cross servicing agreement, allows the provision of necessities to Japanese troops while in the Philippines.
The second agreement was on the sharing of defense and military information, similar to the pact the Philippines signed with the United States last November. —WITH A REPORT FROM KYODO NEWS SERVICE
