Japan-PH defense agreement underway

Japanese legislator Itsunori Onodera (L) speaks while fellow legislator Yoshiaki Wada (R) listens during a press conference at a hotel in Manila on June 28, 2024. Japan and the Philippines are to hold high-level defence and security talks next month, the foreign department said June 28, as the two countries seek to boost ties in the face of China's growing regional pressure. Ted ALJIBE / AFP

A JAPANESE official on Friday expressed optimism that the negotiation for the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan and the Philippines would end positively.

The deal would allow the two countries to deploy troops on each other's territory.

"We recognize the need to further deepen security and defense cooperation between our two countries," said former Japanese defense minister and now member of Japan's House of Representatives Itsunori Onodera during a news conference on the last day of his five-day visit in the country.

Onodera added he held meetings with National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Eduardo Manalo concerning Japan's strategic defense partnership with the Philippines.

He was accompanied by fellow members of Japan's Congress Yoshiaki Wada, a former senior advisor to the minister of defense, and Rui Matsukawa, a former parliamentary vice minister of defense.

"Japan is committed, ready to provide necessary assets to the Philippines to protect Philippine security," said Wada.

Philippine officials will hold talks on bilateral and defense and security issues with Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa on July 8, 2024.

In April, Tokyo's Maritime Self-Defense Force participated in joint naval and air drills with the United States, Australia and the Philippines.

Earlier this month, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Japan Coast Guard and the Directorate General of Sea Transportation of Indonesia joined the Regional Marine Pollution Exercise.