On Monday, December 16th, the Philippine Senate approved the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) signed with Japan, marking Tokyo’s first such agreement in Asia. This move signifies the increasing threat posed by China in the Indo-Pacific region and has raised concerns in both Japan and the Philippines.
Nineteen senators unanimously approved the agreement, with Japan’s Ambassador to the Philippines, Kazuya Endo in attendance for the vote.
In July of this year, the Philippines and Japan’s foreign ministers signed an agreement allowing the deployment of military forces in each other’s territories. This agreement will facilitate smoother military cooperation between Japan and the Philippines by easing the entry of equipment and troops.
During the signing ceremony, Philippine Foreign Minister Enrique Manalo stated, “The RAA elevates our defense partnership to unprecedented levels.”
The Philippines has also signed similar agreements allowing the presence of military forces from the United States and Australia. Japan has signed Reciprocal Access Agreements with the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.
Both Japanese and Philippine foreign ministers emphasized their concerns over China’s escalating actions near Second Thomas Shoal (renamed Renshaw Reef by China and Ayungin Shoal by the Philippines).
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, leading to disputes with several countries including the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.
The dispute between China and the Philippines dates back decades, often resulting in conflicts between the two nations. In 2013, the Philippines sought international arbitration. The Hague Tribunal ruled in 2016 that China’s claims were baseless under international law, a ruling China refuses to acknowledge.
The confrontation at Second Thomas Shoal has been particularly intense, with the Philippines purposely grounding the BRP Sierra Madre landing ship in 1999 to assert sovereignty over the reef and regularly supplying troops stationed on the ship.
This year, Chinese vessels have repeatedly interfered with Philippine resupply missions, drawing condemnation from the international community.
Japan is also closely monitoring China’s aggressive actions in the East China Sea. Earlier this year, China made unprecedented incursions into Japan’s airspace and territorial waters.
Both Japan and the Philippines are vital allies of the United States in the Indo-Pacific region. As tensions rise in the South China Sea, joint military exercises between the US, Japan, and the Philippines have increased.
On December 6th, the US, Japan, and the Philippines conducted a joint exercise codenamed Multilateral Maritime Cooperation Action (MMCA). This was the fifth exercise held under the new agreement since April.
According to the US and Philippine military, the exercise aimed to enhance cooperative combat capabilities among the participating countries, involving aircraft and vessels such as the US P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the Philippine Navy’s BRP Andres Bonifacio patrol vessel and C-90 multi-role aircraft, as well as Japan’s DD 106 JS Umigiri destroyer.
Recent tensions in the South China Sea have once again escalated.
The Philippines accused China of harassing Filipino fishing boats with helicopters near Scarborough Shoal at the end of November. On December 4th, a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a Philippine government ship near Ayungin Shoal and sprayed powerful water cannons.