Phil-Japan RAA enhances national security says Año

The proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement will improve military cooperation between Japan and the Philippines and enhance regional security in the region, the National Security Adviser said Sunday.

In a statement, NSA Secretary Eduardo Año said the proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa.

Año also stated that Japan's pledge to support and supply coastal surveillance radars through the Official Security Assistance program is a "symbol to their dedication" to bolstering partner nations' security and deterrent capacities.

"We are honored to be the first beneficiary of this program, which aligns with our efforts to improve our maritime domain awareness capability, maintain regional stability, and protect the rules-based international order," Año said.

"We look forward to the negotiations and implementation of these agreements and initiatives, which will undoubtedly strengthen our partnership and contribute to a more secure and stable Indo-Pacific," he added.

Año's remarks came as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was in the country for a working visit.

In a special joint session with Congress, Kishida said Japan, the Philippines, and the United States are working together to protect freedom of passage in the South China Sea.

As a courtesy, Kishida also visited the Philippine Coast Guard National Headquarters in Manila on Saturday. There, he got on board the BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of the two 97-meter multi-role response boats built in Japan for the PCG.