Japan has expressed its intention to strengthen its defense cooperation and exchanges with the Philippines in an attempt to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Japanese Defense Minister Kihara Minoru said this as the Philippines and Japan officially inked their Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) on Monday, July 8.

In his remarks during his courtesy call to President Marcos in Malacañang, the Japanese official noted how both countries have gone a long way in their relationship and that Japan would like to boost it even further.

Thanks to the exceptional leadership by Mr. President (Marcos) and Prime Minister Kishida [Fumip], our two nations have made great strides in defense cooperation and exchanges," Kihara said.

"I am committed to working with my good colleague, [Defense] Secretary [Gilberto] Teodoro, to further enhance our defense cooperation and exchanges in order to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific," he added.

According to Kihara, the signing of the RAA, Japan's first pact in Asia, represents the cooperative relationship between the Philippines and Japan.

"I welcome this new development which reinforces the effectiveness of our defense cooperation," he said.

President Marcos shared the same sentiment, saying the signing of the RAA is proof of the Japanese government's commitment to its defense ties with the Philippines.

"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," he said.

"Your presence here increases our confidence and the importance that the Japanese government puts on these extremely important agreements that we have," he added.

The RAA allows Filipino forces to enter Japan for joint combat training. The defense agreement will take effect after ratification by the two countries’ legislature bodies.