Philippines Senate ratifies new defence pact with Japan
Al Jazeera2 days
Philippines Ratifies Defense Pact With Japan
story
Above: The Philippines and Japan sign a key defense pact on July 8, 2024. Image copyright: Ted Aljibe/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
The Philippine Senate unanimously ratified a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, marking the first such defense pact Japan has signed in Asia, allowing military deployments on each other's territory.
The defense and foreign ministers signed the agreement in July 2023 to facilitate joint military exercises and disaster response operations. However, it requires final approval from Japanese lawmakers before taking effect.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The RAA strengthens regional security cooperation and promotes stability in the Indo-Pacific region by enhancing military interoperability and disaster response capabilities between trusted partners, while upholding international law and rules-based order.
Establishment-critical narrative
The agreement represents a concerning military expansion that could escalate regional tensions and trigger an arms race in Southeast Asia, while disregarding historical sensitivities regarding Japan's World War II presence in the Philippines.
