Philippines and Japan Will Sign Reciprocal Access Agreement During July Meeting

Japan and the Philippines will sign a reciprocal military access agreement during the upcoming 2+2 meeting held in Manila in July.

The Reciprocal Access Agreement will allow the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japanese Self-Defense Force units to conduct training in each other’s countries.

Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Gilberto Teodoro Jr., said during a May 25^th interview that both countries will begin negotiations on an intelligence sharing agreement called the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSMIFA).

The Philippines and the United States are also negotiating their own version of the GSMIFA.