Manila: Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida called for stronger ties with the Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean),including the US, to avert deterioration of territorial disputes in the South China Sea, and the promotion of regional stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.
China, Japan and South Korea are major partners of the 10-member Asean countries which is composed of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
“The strategic environment of the Asia-Pacific region continues to change significantly. Japan as a responsible democracy will play a proactive role on the stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region,” vowed Kishida, adding, “I [also] believe that it is important to strengthen the Japan-US Alliance and deepen collaboration with neighbouring countries which are developing under freedom, democracy and market economy [in the region].”
On the second day of his visit to the Philippines, following a meeting with his counterpart, Philippine Foreign Secretary Albert del Rosario on Thursday, Kishida added, “Together with the Philippines as our strategic partner, it is important to cooperate for a stable and prosperous Asia Pacific region.”
“In today’s meeting we agreed on this point,” said Kishida, adding, “Both countries jointly tackle regional stability and prosperity…Japan attaches importance to the enhancement of the maritime security capabilities of the Philippines and does not begrudge it of assistance and cooperation for that purpose.”
Kishida also mentioned Japan-assisted “enhanced maritime salvage capabilities in the seas near the Philippines”.
All these things will “lead to the protection of the lives and assets not only of the Filipino people but also peoples of neighbourhood countries including Japan,” Kishida explained.
Foreign Secretary del Rosario said that both countries are now discussing Philippines’ acquisition of 10 multi-role vessels or patrol boats for the Philippine Coast Guard; including improved communications equipment and personnel training to handle these equipment.
To guard its West Philippine Sea (the country’s name for the South China Sea), the Philippine government recently bought two second-hand coastguard vessels from the US.
Kishida and del Rosario did not mention if China, the world’s second largest economy, will be a major part of the strengthening of the Asia-Pacific region.
Both Kishida and del Rosario did not comment when asked to be more specific about China’s role in Japan’s call for stronger alliance of nations in the Asia-Pacific region.
China and Japan are engaged in territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islands, called Diaoyus by China and Senkakus by Japan, off the East China Sea.
China, Taiwan, and Vietnam claim the whole of the South China Sea based on their historical rights over the area.
Brunei, Malaysia, and the Philippines claim some parts of the Spratly Archipelago in the South China Sea, based on the provision of the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) which grants 200 nautical miles exclusive economic zones starting from their shores.
