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PH, Japan defense ties growing stronger - Teodoro

Philippine News Agency

By Priam Nepomuceno
February 24, 2025, 2:15 pm

MANILA -- Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Monday said the country's defense and security relations with Japan have grown stronger through the years.

The defense chief made this comment prior to his bilateral meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel.

"Let me thank you for your visit to the Philippines. We had extensive visits and discussions yesterday (referring to their tour at military bases in Luzon Sunday). And the only remark I can say is that the visit is, once again, the best proof that bilateral relations, to include defense and security relations between Japan and the Philippines, are robust, enduring and strong," Teodoro said.

On Sunday, Teodoro and Nakatani visited Basa Air Base in Floridablanca, Pampanga and Wallace Air Station in San Fernando, La Union where they inspected various facilities used in monitoring the country's airspace.

The DND chief also said he is looking forward to discussions with Nakatani to further enhance the defense relationship between the Philippines and Japan which would ensure that the Indo-Pacific Region remains stable against attempts by countries like China to change the "international order and narrative".

"And we look forward to the discussions this morning into even enhancing our partnerships with the shared values of a rules-based international order, a free and open Indo-Pacific, a resilient Japan and the Philippines against unilateral attempts by China and other countries to change the international order and the narrative," Teodoro said.

Meanwhile, the Japanese defense minister lauded the Philippine side for its welcome and hospitality.

Nakatani also recounted that the first time he met Teodoro was on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defense Minister Meeting (ADMM) Plus in November last year. In the said meeting, he remembered that the DND chief invited him to visit the Philippines soon.

"And I was very pleased that my visit has been realized shortly after your invitation," Nakatani said.

The Japanese defense chief also recalled working with then DND Secretary Voltaire Gazmin in 2015, during his last tenure as defense minister.

At the time, Nakatani said Japan signed a Memorandum on Defense Cooperation and Exchange with the country.

"As the regional and international security environment has become increasingly complex and intensified, there is an increasing need for Japan and the Philippines to further enhance defense cooperation and collaboration in order to contribute to the peace and stability in the region and the international community," he added.

Nakatani said he is looking forward to a "deep strategic discussion" with the Philippine side to raise the level of defense cooperation and collaboration between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Teodoro expressed optimism that the Japanese Diet will ratify the Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) this year.

"Japan has been a partner in Philippine development in sustaining internal peace and security and in disaster resilience efforts to strengthen our communities. A significant milestone was the signing of the RAA between Japan and the Philippines last year, and we look forward to its ratification by the Japanese Diet this year so that we can, shall we say, get to the ground running at full speed in implementing the RAA," Teodoro said.

The RAA was signed on July 8, 2024 and ratified by the Philippine Senate on Dec. 16.

Once implemented, the RAA is expected to heighten defense and security cooperation with Japan and enhance interoperability between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Japan Self-Defense Force. (PNA)