President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. witnesses the ceremonial signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement between Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa (L-seated) and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. (R-seated) at the Malacanang Palace on Monday, July 08, 2024. The signing was also witnessed by Japan Defense Minister Kihira Minomura (L) and Foreign Sec. Enrique Manalo (R). KJ Rosales, PPA pool

MANILA — Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Wednesday said the Philippines-Japan’s Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) is “none of China’s business” after the latter expressed protest over the two countries’s defense pact.

“The RAA is a bilateral agreement between Japan and the Philippines. So, it is a matter internal to Japan and the Philippines. So, it is actually none of China’s business because China would then be interfering in the internal affairs of both Japan and the Philippines,” Teodoro told ABS-CBN News in an ambush interview.

Teodoro was the guest speaker of the Management Association of the Philippines’ meeting in Taguig City, where he discussed the government's efforts to defend and protect the country’s territory and sovereignty by equipping the military with training and equipment and strengthening alliances with like-minded countries.

The Philippines and Japan recently signed the RAA, which provides the legal framework for the deployment of Japanese troops and equipment in the Philippines, and vice versa.

China’s Foreign Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Lin Jian said Manila-Tokyo cooperation “should not threaten regional peace and stability, target any third party, or harm the interests of any third party.”

“The Asia-Pacific region does not need any military bloc, still less groupings that incite bloc confrontation or a new Cold War,” he added.

The Philippines and Japan have both longstanding maritime territorial disputes with China and the agreement allows for increased cooperation between their militaries in combat training as well as disaster response.

‘PREPARE FOR WAR BY DETERRENCE’

Teodoro said the Philippines is upgrading its military and strengthening ties with other alliances over external threats.

“We prepare for war by deterrence  — that is the best way to prepare. It is by deterring any aggressive activity or intention of anyone within our territory. That is why we are embarking on Re-Horizon 3 and we are actively entering into negotiations with like-minded nations to build up our capabilities to deter. And secondly, if you noticed, the alliance-building efforts are precisely for deterrence because war is unthinkable. We must be really prepared for,” he said during the forum.

Re-Horizon 3 is the Philippines’ revised phase that seeks to not only obtain new equipment but also remove inefficiencies, streamlining the procurement process and developing a better defense strategy.

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Teodoro clarified though that the military trainings are not meant to incite war or any political destabilization.

“There is a lot of talks, which is one again, disinformation from China — that the increased of our training…is preparation for war. No, that is not true, that is scaring our people. The truth is the Armed Forces of the Philippines has never trained to the level that it should train; it has never used and tested the equipment it has bought. So, today we are doing that and we are spending ammunition and other capability so that we can train,” he said in a speech.

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