日比円滑化協定、年内締結に意欲　３カ国海上演習協議―比駐米大使

　【ワシントン時事】フィリピンのロムアルデス駐米大使は３日、自衛隊と比軍の往来に関する「円滑化協定（ＲＡＡ）」について、「年末までに実現するだろう」と述べ、早期締結に意欲を示した。また、「海上演習を３カ国で定期的に実施することになるのではないか」と述べ、合同の警戒監視活動に向けて協議していると明らかにした。
　オンラインで時事通信などとのインタビューに応じた。岸田文雄首相は１１日、ワシントンでバイデン米大統領とマルコス比大統領との初の３カ国首脳会談に臨む。南シナ海への海洋進出の動きを強める中国を念頭に、３首脳は経済、安全保障分野を中心に３カ国の協力推進を確認する。（2024/04/04-14:26）

Japan and the Philippines will possibly sign a reciprocal access agreement by the end of this year to facilitate visits to each other's country by the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said in an online interview on Wednesday.
   Tangible results, including the signing of the RAA, will come "shortly after" a summit of leaders from Japan, the United States and the Philippines in Washington on April 11 "or maybe before the end of the year," Romualdez said.
   He said the three nations are expected to conduct joint maritime exercises on a regular basis.
   At the three-way summit, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, U.S. President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. are expected to agree to promote economic and security cooperation to counter China's maritime expansion in the South China Sea.
   The summit will emphasize "the closeness of our relationship," Romualdez said.