Japan-Phl access agreement signed today

The Philippines and Japan are expected to sign today the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), a military pact that will facilitate mutual visits between Filipino and Japanese forces for training and joint exercises.

- HELEN FLORES and PIA LEE-BRAGO

Both countries are expected to finalize the RAA during the 2nd Philippines-Japan Foreign and Defense Ministerial Meeting (2+2), which will be attended by Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara.

The RAA is likely to be signed during President Marcos’ meeting with Kamikawa and Kihara at Malacañang.

The controversial RAA is expected to facilitate joint training exercises between the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military. It will also establish guidelines for handling weapons and ammunition during these exercises, as well as jurisdiction over criminal acts and accidents and vice versa.

Japan has already signed similar accords with Britain and Australia. The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia and plans to pursue one with France.

The Philippines’ military chief said last Thursday he hoped a key defense pact with Japan allowing for the deployment of troops on each other’s territory will be signed at security talks this week.

Armed Forces chief Gen. Romeo Brawner told reporters. “RAA is important because it will allow Japanese forces, Japanese troops to come into our country to conduct training with us. It will also allow our troops to go to Japan to train with them.”

Last week, Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo said discussions on the RAA are almost complete and the prospect of the deal getting signed is bright.