These are extraordinary times that require extraordinary actions by two countries whose people have shared the same dreams and aspirations — so important for their respective leaders to consider if only to avoid the horror of the conflicts in Europe and the Middle East from happening to us in Southeast Asia.

Within a period of barely seven months, the Philippines and Japan have entered into landmark agreements.

First, on 12 February 2025, was the unprecedented no-visa requirement for Filipino soldiers entering Japanese military bases under the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on 2 August 2024.

And second was the signing and exchange of notes between Philippine Foreign Secretary Enrique Manalo and Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuga on an Open Radio Access Network (Open RAN) system at the University of the Philippines under the Government of Japan’s Economic and Social Development Program.

The Japan-Philippines RAA establishes a procedure for cooperative activities between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Armed Forces of the Philippines by, for instance, exempting troops of either side from the visa requirement when going to the other country.

The aim is to improve interoperability between the two national forces by facilitating their access to each other’s military bases for joint exercises and training. The Philippines is the third country with whom Japan has signed an RAA; similar agreements have been signed with Australia and the United Kingdom.

While the RAA facilitates the deployment of troops in each other’s territory, its impact is comparable to upgrading the relationship to a “quasi alliance.” The signing of an RAA between Japan and the Philippines is also remarkable because it strengthens ties between like-minded states in the Indo-Pacific region.

In accordance with the US-Japan-Philippines summit on 11 April 2024, as well as the subsequent meeting between Japan and the Philippines on enhancing bilateral information communication technology (ICT) collaboration, Endo expressed confidence the joint effort would constitute the realization of a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and bring about greater regional stability through technological innovation.

Ambassador Kazuga thanked the Department of Information and Communications Technology for its crucial role in the project, emphasizing its leadership in deepening Japan-Philippine cooperation in ICT.

This was the second recognition given by Japan to an information communication technology agency of the Philippines for further enhancing bilateral ICT collaboration.

The first was on 19 July 2023 when the honorable Gamaliel A. Cordoba, former commissioner of the National Telecommunications Commission and now chairperson of the Commission on Audit, received the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, in a conferment ceremony held at the residence of the Ambassador of Japan.

Former Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines, Koshikawa Kazuhiko, on behalf of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, conferred the recognition on Cordoba for his contribution to advancing cooperation between Japan and the Philippines in the field of telecommunications.

“Without Commissioner Cordoba’s visionary leadership and unwavering dedication, the deployment and dissemination of Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting-Terrestrial in the Philippines certainly would have never materialized,” Ambassador Kazuhiko said.

“I believe our joint venture is graced with fortunate timing. Prosperity founded on strategic collaboration is not only integral to regional development but also to our vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific,” Ambassador Kazuga said.

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