Philippines-Japan military pact takes effect Sept. 11
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines and Japan completed the final steps on Tuesday, August 12 to put into force a military access agreement that officials say will provide deterrence against countries seeking to “reshape the world order.”
The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Manila and Tokyo will officially take effect on September 11, or 30 days after Foreign Affairs Secretary Theresa Lazaro and Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya exchanged diplomatic notes at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Manila.
First signed in Manila during the Philippines-Japan “2+2” foreign and defense ministerial meeting in 2024, the RAA sets the legal framework for the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Japan Self-Defense Forces’ personnel, vessels, and aircraft to enter each other’s territory for joint training exercises and other activities.
Patterned after a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA), the RAA aims to streamline defense cooperation between the two nations.
Before the RAA, Japan’s Self-Defense Forces mainly took part in humanitarian and disaster response operations in the Philippines. The new pact allows both nations to expand their cooperation to include joint military exercises.
Officials underscore strategic value
Lazaro said the pact demonstrates Japan’s “clear commitment to the Philippines’ efforts to advance our defense capabilities” as the country asserts “its sovereignty and sovereign rights in today’s fast-evolving regional security landscape.”
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro, who also attended the signing ceremony, said the pact enables both countries’ forces to work together to preserve the world order “against unilateral attempts to reshape [it] into the selfish benefit of parties to the exclusion of others.”
Speaking to reporters afterward, Teodoro was more direct when asked which country posed a threat to both nations. “When we band together against some country, let’s, for example, China,” he said. “We share the same challenges with Japan, and there’s no denying that, and it’s useless to deny it because it’s the truth.”
Teodoro added that the Philippines faces similar challenges alongside Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and France, the latter two of which the country is already in talks with for a possible VFA.
“Because [China] stands out as the summa cum laude of revisionism in international law and bad behavior,” he said.
In his remarks, Endo described the RAA as an urgent response to “the challenging security environment” facing the Indo-Pacific region.
“This swift and decisive progress speaks to the urgency and strategic value both our nations attach to our security and defense cooperation,” the envoy said.
Teodoro urged both the Philippines and Japan to “speedily conclude the component agreements” needed to make the RAA fully operational.
Next steps. The Senate ratified the agreement on Dec. 16, 2024, while Japan’s House of Councillors approved it on June 6.
Tuesday’s exchange of diplomatic notes starts the 30-day countdown to its effectivity.
Besides Japan, the Philippines currently has VFAs with the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, and is in talks for similar agreements with Canada and France.
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