Japan’s National Diet approved on Friday the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a significant defense pact enabling Japanese forces to conduct joint exercises with Filipino troops in the Philippines, according to Manila’s top envoy in Tokyo.
“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,” Philippine Ambassador to Japan Mylene Garcia-Albano said in a statement.
The RAA, which similarly allows Filipino soldiers to enter Japan for joint combat drills, was approved by the Philippine Senate on December 2024.
Both countries signed the agreement in Manila on July 2024.
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.
Similar to Manila’s Visiting Forces Agreement with its treaty ally, the United States, the RAA defense pact with the Philippines is the first to be signed by Japan in Asia. Japan signed similar agreements with Australia and the United Kingdom.
“We thank the Government and people of Japan for their steadfast support and continued collaboration,” Garcia-Albano said.
“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.”
Japan is one of the Philippines’ four Strategic Partners. The two countries has over 260 bilateral agreements, including the transfer of defense equipment and technology, infrastructure, and on Mindanao development.
Since 2023, the Philippines has been one of the first recipients of Japan’s Official Security Assistance (OSA) and the only country that Japan selected for grant aid in two consecutive years.
Editor’s Note: This story has been updated.