President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted the importance of the country’s defense cooperation with Japan as he witnessed the signing of the landmark Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the two countries on Monday.
In line with the signing of the RAA, the Chief Executive welcomed in Malacañang Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru, “for a very, very important event that our two countries have been working very hard to achieve.”
Kamikawa signed the RAA on behalf of the Japanese government while Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. signed the agreement on behalf of the Philippines. President Marcos witnessed the signing with Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo and Kihara.
The RAA signing was done after the joint courtesy call on President Marcos of Kamikawa and Kihara together with Japanese officials.
“I’m glad that having witnessed the commencement, the beginning of this agreement, that it has now come to fruition and that we are ready now to sign the Reciprocal (Access) Agreement,” President Marcos said.
“And your presence here increases our confidence and the importance that the Japanese government puts on these extremely important agreements that we have,” the President added.
“(A)nd I’m very glad that we have come to this day. So, once again, welcome to the Philippines. I’m happy that you were able to come and visit to witness or to be part of this very important event.”
Kamikawa thanked the President for pointing out the importance of Japan-Philippines alliance. She said the two nations have made concrete progress in a wide range of areas of cooperation.
“In particular, the fact that we are able to sign the RAA today is a great achievement following the leaders’ decision to launch negotiations at last November’s summit meeting,” Kamikawa told President Marcos.
“To maintain and strengthen the free and open international order based on the rule of law, we would like to strengthen our partnership under your excellency’s leadership,” she added.
Defense Minister Kihara expressed gratitude to the exceptional leadership of President Marcos and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. He said the two leaders enabled the Philippines and Japan to make great strides in defense cooperation and exchanges.
“The signature of the reciprocal access agreement today represents the cooperative relationship that our two nations enjoy. And I welcome this new development, which reinforces the effectiveness of our defense cooperation,” Kihara said.
“I am committed to working with my good colleague Secretary Teodoro to further enhance our defense cooperation and exchanges in order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he added.
The RAA will allow Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training. The defense agreement, which will take effect after ratification by the two countries’ legislature bodies, is the first pact made by Japan in Asia. | PND
