Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez again stressed that the House of Representatives intends to support initiatives to protect national interests in the West Philippine Sea.
Romuadez made the statement, buoyed by Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio’s speech during Saturday’s special joint session of Congress and the Senate, where Kishida bared just how serious a partner Japan was to the Philippines regarding issues of security and defense cooperation.
“Prime Minister Kishida’s remarks prove that Japan is a dependable, eager, and stable partner of the Philippines in fostering international order. Together with like-minded nations such as the United States, we look forward to solidifying the cooperation blueprint with Japan,” Romualdez said.
Kishida emphasized Japan›s «renewed commitment» to defend a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), saying that an important pillar of FOIP was to “extend efforts for security and safe use of the sea to the air,” citing the Japanese government’s decision to donate 12 ships to the Philippine Coast Guard as well as the delivery of a warning and control radar to the Philippine Air Force.
The Philippine Navy is waiting on coastal surveillance radars from Japan under the newly established Official Security Assistance amid the promise of the Japan-Philippines Reciprocal Access Agreement’s version of the Visiting Forces Agreement.
The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Sunday meanwhile said that the Philippines and Japan have started negotiations for the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the two countries anchored on maintaining a rules-based international order.
The AFP said the RAA is similar to the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) signed by the Philippines with the US.
The RAA would finally be underway following President Marcos’ meeting with the Japanese Prime Minister, the AFP further said.
Col. Medel Aguilar, the AFP spokesman, said that the context of the access agreement would still depend on Manila and Tokyo’s discussions and how it would “support the activities that the two countries will hold.”
“It would promote interoperability between the two countries promoting a common agenda, which is a rules-based international order,” Aguilar said on a Teleradyo Serbisyo interview.
The agreement has been touted as a way to strengthen security ties between the two countries and allow joint military exercises.
The Philippines, he added, will push for national security in the negotiations and take advantage of the offers by other allies, aside from Japan and the US.
National Security Adviser, Secretary Eduardo Año expressed his gratitude toward the Japanese government in a statement released for the commitment made and enhancing security cooperation between the two Asian countries.
“The reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that Japan and the Philippines are set to formally discuss will undoubtedly boost our military cooperation and contribute to regional security. The proposed RAA will facilitate the procedures and set guidelines when Philippine forces visit Japan for training and joint exercises, and vice versa,” he added.
Año also added that the security assistance given by Japan to the country is a testament of the stronger bond between the Philippines and Japan in strengthening its security and deterrence capabilities.
The NSC chief also said that the equipment, technology and the agreement will support the country’s maritime law enforcement capability and strengthen the partnership of the two allied nations.
Japan has sat as an observer at the annual Balikatan exercises and has held smaller joint training exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard.
Aside from the United States, the Philippines also has a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia.
Kishida, in a joint conference, said Japan will help improve the Philippines’ maritime law enforcement capabilities “including the provision of patrol vessels and defense equipment and technological cooperation including the transfer of warning and control radar.” With Vince Lopez