AFP mulls Japan VFA

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is eyeing a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with their Japanese counterparts once the country’s Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Tokyo comes to fruition.

In a press conference at Camp Aguinaldo on Tuesday, AFP spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla said the approval of the RAA between the Philippines and Japan would cover defense cooperation activities and exercises that aim to respond to the current security landscape.

Padilla did not give exact details as to the AFP’s specific engagements with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), stressing that “it is for higher authorities for the final release of the details of the RAA.”

“But in terms of the AFP's hopes, what we want is tantamount to having a VFA with Japan," she told reporters in a mix of English and Filipino

“That’s what we want to achieve at the end of all of this and over and above that, not just Japan but other nations to also follow suit,” she added.

Padilla noted that "this is not limited to the enhancement" of technological and cyber security needs, development of maritime domain awareness capabilities, expanding training and education exchanges, and strengthening humanitarian assistance and disaster response.

“This partnership will help the AFP address security challenges, especially in critical areas such as the West Philippine Sea, and further solidify our preparedness and resilience in safeguarding national sovereignty,” she said.

“The RAA has a wide scope, but as I said we won't be giving the exact details until such time we will be implementing it in the AFP,” she added.

On 8 July, the Philippines and Japan formally signed their RAA, which outlines the provisions on entry and departure, movement, access to facilities, and professional practice of the visiting force and civilian component for cooperative activities, as well as the rules governing the jurisdiction over the actions of the Visiting Force and Civilian Component.

On Monday, the Senate concurred with the ratification of the agreement between the Philippines and Japan, allowing the facilitation of reciprocal access and military cooperation between the AFP and JSDF.

Meanwhile, the Department of National Defense (DND) welcomed the approval of Senate Resolution 1248 concurring in the ratification of the RAA.

In a statement on Tuesday, the DND said the RAA will heighten the country’s defense and security cooperation with Japan and enhance the interoperability of the AFP and JSDF “through the conduct of more in-depth practical cooperative activities and exercises.”

“We extend our gratitude to His Excellency, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., and our esteemed Senators led by Senate President Francis Escudero, Majority Floor Leader Senator Francis Tolentino, and Foreign Relations Chairperson Senator Imee Marcos for ensuring the realization of this landmark Agreement,” the DND statement further read.

According to DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, the RAA is set to be approved by the Japanese government's National Diet, in accordance with Japan's domestic legal process, to render it valid and binding upon both countries.

“We look forward to the implementation of the RAA, which will enable our militaries to expand our defense cooperation and build trust and confidence amongst each other amid shared security challenges,” Andolong said.

“Pursuing collaborative partnerships with like-minded nations is essential as we continue to fortify our own defense capabilities,” he added.

The DND further stated that the RAA with Japan “is a testament to the Philippines' unequivocal commitment to peace, security, and stability of the Indo-Pacific region.”