The Philippines and Japan have signed a reciprocal access agreement (RAA) allowing them to deploy their forces on each other's soil, a milestone in their security relations amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific, an official said on Monday( 8 July 2024).

• Philippine defence minister Gilberto Teodoro and Japanese foreign minister Yoko Kamikawa signed the deal in a ceremony in Manila.
• Kamikawa called the signing of the RAA “a great achievement” for the two countries to further strengthen security and defense cooperation. 
• Both Japan and the Philippines have been increasing cooperation with the U.S amid tensions with China.