Philippines and Japan to deploy military forces on each other's territory

The Philippine Senate on December 16 approved the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, allowing the two countries to deploy military forces on each other's territory.

The RAA is the first agreement of its kind signed by Japan in Asia and will help facilitate the deployment of troops and equipment for combat training and disaster response, strengthening military cooperation between Manila and Tokyo, according to Reuters.

All 19 senators present at the November 16 session voted to ratify the agreement, with Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo in attendance at the legislative chamber in Manila.

The agreement was signed by the two countries' defense and foreign ministers in July, but still needs approval from both countries' parliaments to come into effect.

The Philippines has Visiting Forces Agreements (VFA) with the US and Australia. Japan also has similar RAA agreements with Australia and the UK and is negotiating one with France.

The Philippines and Japan, two of the United States' closest Asian allies, have both taken a tough stance against what they see as an increasingly assertive China in the East and South China Seas.

In another development, GMA News reported on December 16 that the Philippine Air Force and the US Pacific Air Force recently conducted bilateral training activities in the Philippine Sea.

"A-29 Super Tucanos, Missouri ANG C-130 H2 Hercules and A-10 Thunderbolt II Fighter Squadron 25 flew in formation over the Philippine Sea for bilateral training," the US Pacific Air Forces said on December 14.