Japan and the Philippines inked a pivotal pact on Monday, paving the way for mutual military visitations, as stress with China persists. The Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA), witnessed by the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, was signed by the ministers of foreign affairs and defense from Japan and Philippines, Yoko Kamikawa and Gilberto Teodoro respectively. The pact was hailed by Marcos Jr as a significant enhancement to his nation’s security.
Enrique Manalo, the Philippine secretary for foreign affairs, expressed during a joint press conference that the RAA propels the nations’ defense collaboration to an unparalleled level. He also indicated that other measures to improve and synchronize the defense and security strategies of both nations were deliberated upon.
Mr Teodoro pointed out during the press briefing that the agreement enables “interoperability exercises” between the countries, comparing it to Manila’s visiting forces agreements with the US and Australia.
The RAA agreement aligns with Marcos’s endeavour to strengthen connections with congenial nations as his government resists Beijing’s comprehensive claims in the South China Sea. Manila is also engaging in discussions about visiting forces agreements with France and Canada.
Earlier this year, Fumio Kishida, Japanese prime minister, and Marcos assured to strengthen security ties during a meeting with the US president, Joe Biden. Their nations form part of an emerging regional body with Australia, dubbed the “Squad”.
When probed about the newly formed defense agreement between Japan and Philippines, Lin Jian, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, during a press briefing in Beijing, conveyed that the Asia-Pacific region does not require military groupings or provocation of bloc confrontations and referred to this move as ‘the smoke signals of a new cold war’.
As a critic of any impulsive attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion, Ms Kamikawa warned against ‘dangerous activities’, citing recent happenings around the Second Thomas Shoal.
Japan has progressively become one of Manila’s primary patrons and strategic allies, endorsing the Philippines in its efforts to uphold its maritime borders in the South China Sea through means such as maritime patrols and defense equipment. Both countries are grappling with similar security challenges.
In the past few months, conflict has arisen between Manila and Beijing over maritime claims in the significant waters of the South China Sea. Similarly, Tokyo has been involved in a contentious disagreement with Beijing over the rights to a group of deserted islands in the East China Sea.
Japan’s defence minister, Minoru Kihara, expressed concern over the illegitimate nautical claims. During a briefing, he voiced opposition against the hazardous and forceful employment of coast guard and naval militia vessels in the South China Sea. – Bloomberg.