The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) have agreed to deepen their ties and strengthen defense cooperation pending the ratification of the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Tokyo and Manila.

In a press conference on Tuesday at Camp Aguinaldo, PAF spokesperson Col. Ma. Consuelo Castillo said this development followed a recent virtual bilateral meeting between PAF chief Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura and JASDF chief Gen. Uchikura Hiroaki.

Castillo said their discussions focused on regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific and the need to enhance collaboration to promote peace and stability.

“Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding joint training, future exchanges, and collaborative efforts to strengthen interoperability, reflecting their shared dedication to addressing emerging security challenges and fostering mutual trust,” she added.

In other developments, Castillo said the PAF and JASDF will hold another iteration of the bilateral “Doshin Bayanihan” Exercise this year, focusing on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response scenarios.

The previous Doshin Bayanihan exercises were held in 2021, 2022, and 2024, respectively.