The Philippines and Japan have signed a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) that will allow their troops to visit each other’s countries for joint exercises, humanitarian assistance, and disaster relief operations. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida witnessed the signing of the RAA on Friday, during the latter’s official visit to Manila. The RAA is similar to a …

In a significant development, the Philippines has officially entered into negotiations for a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) with Japan, ushering in a new chapter in regional dynamics.  Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. confirmed the deployment of a formal negotiating team led by Department of National Defense Undersecretary Pablo Lorenzo, which set off for Japan on Monday. While the exact timeline …