The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) is considering a Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) with its Japanese counterpart once the country’s Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Tokyo is finalized.

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 will cover defense cooperation activities and exercises aimed at responding to the current security landscape.

Padilla did not provide specifics about the AFP’s engagements with the Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF), emphasizing that “it is for the higher authorities to release the final details of the RAA.”

“But in terms of the hopes of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, what we want to happen here is tantamount to having a VFA with Japan,” she told reporters.

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

Padilla noted that “this is not limited to the enhancement” of technological and cyber security needs, the 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 our national sovereignty,” she said.

“The RAA has a wide scope, but as I mentioned, we won’t be providing the exact details until we are ready to implement it in the AFP,” she added.

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

On Monday, the Senate concurred in the ratification of the agreement between the Philippines and Japan, which facilitates reciprocal access and military cooperation between the AFP and JSDF.

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

In a statement on Tuesday, the DND said the RAA will strengthen 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 read.

According to DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong, the RAA is set to be approved by Japan’s National Diet, in accordance with the country’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 with 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 said the RAA with Japan “is a testament to the Philippines’ unequivocal commitment to peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.”