SENATOR Imee Marcos, presiding over the hearing of the Committee on Foreign Relations Monday, November 25, 2024, on the concurrence to the ratification of the Agreement Between the Republic of the Philippines and Japan Concerning the Facilitation of Reciprocal Access and Agreement (RAA) Between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Self-Defense Forces of Japan.
Under the agreement, it is expected that the Philippines and Japan will undertake more in-depth practical military cooperation and exercises.
Marcos said the RAA would deepen defense cooperation between the Philippines and Japan, and therefore, enhance the interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.
This is guided by the following four principles: Global and Regional Peace and Stability; Capacity-Building; Maritime Security; and External Defense, the senator stressed.
Defense cooperation and military exercises, according to Marcos, aim to respond to the current security landscape, such as but not limited to: the enhancement of technical and cybersecurity needs, development of maritime domain awareness capabilities, expanding training and education exchanges, and the strengthening of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief.
“The RAA gives recognition to the promotion of international order based on the rule of law given the shared interests of the Philippines and Japan to global and regional peace and stability,” Marcos pointed out (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau).