Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) – The Philippines has started negotiations with Japan on a Reciprocal Access Agreement, Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilbert Teodoro said Monday, referring to a deal that would allow temporary visits of Japanese troops in the country.
“Our formal negotiating team led by [DND] Usec. Pablo Lorenzo has left this morning to start the formal round of negotiations with Japan,” Teodoro told reporters in an interview on Monday.
The defense chief said he ordered the team to iron out all the issues as soon as possible so that the RAA could have an early ratification by the Senate.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, during the latter’s visit to Manila, announced that the Philippines and Japan had opened talks to allow troops from one country to freely visit the other temporarily.
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri told CNN Philippines’ The Source that the upper chamber would likely ratify the deal next year.
He said 16 senators out of 24 would have to vote in favor of it. He said he believes the Senate will support the measure.
READ: Senate eyes ratifying proposed PH-Japan military access deal in 2024
Aside from the proposed deal with Japan, the Philippines has a Visiting Forces Agreement with the United States and a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia.
Japan, meanwhile, has RAAs with Australia and the United Kingdom.
