Marcos, Kishida want access pact done ASAP

TOKYO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday said he and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida want the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) between the Philippines and Japan done «as soon as possible,» as the incidents in the South China Sea in the past couple of months «have certainly sharpened our focus.»

Marcos made the remark after he and Kishida agreed to reach an «early conclusion» of the planned RAA during their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.

«I think both the Prime Minister and I agree ASAP (as soon as possible),» Marcos told Filipino journalists during an interview in Tokyo.

Asked if China's aggressive tactics in the West Philippine Sea contributed to the RAA [idea], Marcos said it had been «in the works way before that.»

«Of course, the incidents in the past couple of months have certainly sharpened our focus when it comes to that, but again, that's one of the things that I'm looking forward to that will have… a very big multiplier effect on our capabilities,» he said.

The President reiterated that such agreements are not just being explored with Japan but with other countries as well.

He did not specify which countries.

«These are the kind of arrangements we are making not only with Japan but also with other countries around the China Sea, Indo-Pacific region. We also have the same kind of negotiations or discussions with many other countries, so we will continue to do that,» he added.

In November, Marcos and Kishida reaffirmed their commitment to work on a framework for the proposed RAA, which will facilitate exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Japan Self-Defense Forces.

Japan sits as an observer in the annual Balikatan exercises and has held smaller joint training exercises with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Aside from the United States, the Philippines also has a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement with Australia.