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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PH-Japan defense pact won't be signed yet in Marcos' Tokyo trip

PH-Japan defense pact won't be signed yet in Marcos' Tokyo trip

Published Dec 11, 2023 07:34 am

There will be no chance for the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan to be signed during President Marcos' visit to Tokyo this week.

Screenshot 2023-12-11 113238.png
DFA Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu (RTVM Screenshot)

It might, however, be discussed during the bilateral meeting between the Philippines and Japan on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit.

"The RAA is more or less a bilateral issue, so it would definitely not be part of the ASEAN agenda. But it could be, who knows, I cannot confirm this, but it could be a matter of bilateral discussion between the Philippines and Japan," Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Daniel Espiritu said in a Palace briefing on Monday, Dec. 11.

Asked if there will be a chance for both sides to sign the RAA on the sidelines of the summit, Espiritu said "none at all."

"None at all. Because it is not part of the agenda. And as for the bilateral meeting, it might be but I cannot confirm that one, whether that will be part of the agenda," he said.

"An RAA will require a long time to make so I don't think it could be done in just one sitting," he added.

The President is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines of the summit.

The two leaders also met during Kishida's visit to Manila in November this year, where they reaffirmed their commitment to work on a framework for the proposed RAA with Japan which will facilitate exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippine (AFP) and Japan Self-Defense Forces.

While it is a bilateral concern, Espiritu said it might be brought up during the discussions on geo-political challenges and international developments in the summit, especially after the recent aggressions of Chinese coast guard and militia vessels against Philippine vessels in the West Philippine Sea.

"We will see. Probably in general because definitely they will be talking about international developments and regional developments and among them are developments in the South China Sea and the East China Sea but it will be discussed within the ASEAN context," Espiritu said.

"We don't have details on that yet. It will depend on the developments during the negotiations of outcome statements and also it will depend on the dynamics of the meeting," he added.

Marcos will be in Japan from Dec. 15 to 18 to participate in the ASEAN-Japan Commemorative Summit.

READ MORE: Marcos to follow up previous business deals in 2nd Tokyo trip

Related Tags

Japan trip Fumio Kishida Reciprocal Access Agreement President Marcos
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