December 17, 2024

The Philippine Senate on Monday ratified a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) with Japan that would allow their militaries to deploy on each other's soil. Chinese analysts said that the agreement signifies that the Philippine government has sacrificed the country's sovereignty in order to cater to the strategic goals and interests of the US in the Asia-Pacific region. They also pointed out that signing so-called reciprocal agreement allows Japan to boost its military strength through testing water step by step, which poses risks to the security of the entire region. 

The RAA, the first of its kind that Japan has signed in Asia, will ease the entry of equipment and troops for combat training and disaster response, smoothing military cooperation between Manila and Tokyo, according to Reuters.

The agreement was signed by the defense and foreign ministers of both nations in July, but the deal needed parliament's approval to enter into force.

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