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/File

MANILA — Senate President Francis Escudero on Tuesday said that the Senate has still not yet received the country's reciprocal access agreement with Japan for ratification.

"As of this date, we have not  yet received the RAA, so how can I give you a timeline if I haven't even received the proposed treaty for ratification?" the Senate chief told the Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines. 

"As I understand it, it's still being reviewed by the DND (Department of National Defense), the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) and the Bureau of Customs. As I said earlier, I wonder why, because prior to being signed I guess it should have been reviewed already. After signature, it's a ministerial process of sending it to us."

"As of this date we have not received it. As soon as we get it, probably it will take us about a month to deliberate on it and put  it to a vote," Escudero said.

READ: Philippines, Japan sign landmark defense pact

READ: Why the Philippine-Japan defense pact matters

The defense pact was signed in July by Japan Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Sec. Gilbert Teodoro Jr. The accord, which Tokyo and Manila began negotiating in November, provides the legal framework for Japan and the Philippines to send defense personnel to each other's territory for training and other operations. 

The Philippines and Japan are longtime allies of the United States, which has been strengthening its alliances from Canberra to Tokyo to counter China's growing military might and influence in the region.

Escudero pointed out that the Senate must have the RAA by next month so it can be ratified this year, or else it will have to wait for next year.

"Hopefully we will be able to do it within the year if they give  it to us before the end of October. If they give it to us anytime after that, we will be busy with deliberating on the 2025 national budget and it might already be next year by the time we ratify, come around to ratify again. It will depend on when they will submit it to us for ratification,” Escudero said.

Escudero said agreements like this help deter conflict.

"I'm of the firm belief that deterrence is the best policy in order to avoid conflict. And the only way you can provide deterrence is if you have a strong military, not to engage in war but  to preserve the peace. While the Philippines still does not have a  strong military, I believe arrangements such as this... is helping provide that strength and in a way deterrence in order again not to engage in war but to preserve the peace,” Escudero said.

"I view this RAA as of extreme importance, along with other agreements that the Philippines has entered into with our partners and allies," he added.

Escudero, however, does not think that disagreements with China on the West Philippine Sea should be enough to end the relationship with that country.

"My answer would be our relations with China culturally, economically, antedates colonization by Spain of the Philippines," Escudero said.

"In any long standing relationship like husband and wife there will be disagreements, there will be points of divergence," he added.

"This is one thing we cannot agree with China, but that does not necessarily mean we will call it quits," Escudero also said.

Tokyo has signed similar reciprocal access agreements with Britain and Australia in recent years.

The Philippines has equivalent pacts with the United States and Australia and plans to pursue one with France. -- with a report from Agence France-Presse

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