Philippine Senate ratifies military access pact with Japan

Agreement aims to ease cooperation on training, disaster response

20241216 Philippines Japan drills

The Philippine Coast Guard vessel BRP Melchora Aquino and Japan Coast Guard ship Akitsushima conduct drills of the coast of Bataan, Philippines, in the South China Sea, in June 2023. © Reuters

MANILA (Reuters) -- 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 as both countries worry about China's increasingly assertive stance in the 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.

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