Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida met his counterpart Perfecto Yasay in the southern Philippine city of Davao where both pledged to work closely to boost maritime security while facing separate sea disputes with China.
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China has repeatedly claimed sovereignty over particular islands and reefs and their adjacent waters in the South China Sea and has taken steps to protect them, even after the Hague’s Arbitration Court waved Beijing’s claims to some of the islands disputed by the Philippines – a decision China has refused to recognize.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said the situation in the South China Sea region was “getting worse” with militarisation.
In the ruling, the tribunal ruled that China’s self-imposed nine-dash line rule and historical claim have no basis in claiming more than 90 percent of the vast maritime zone.
He said they urged China to enforce maritime security based on the rule of law that should be “uncompromisingly respected”.
“We will be contributing to the regional peace, stability, and prosperity”, a Japanese translator said, quoting Kishida. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Taiwan and Brunei have overlapping claims.
“We talked about how Japan can help the Philippines in capacity building, particularly with regards to maritime security”, Ohtaka added.
In April, the Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers made a port call for the first time in Vietnam’s Cam Ranh Bay, which has strategic importance as it faces the South China Sea.
The Japan Coast Guard rescued six crew members of a Chinese fishing boat that was sinking in the East China Sea after colliding with a Greek cargo ship early on Thursday, 11 August.
At a news conference after the meeting, Yasay said acts of intimidation are not permitted under worldwide law. “One of which will be arriving in the Philippines towards the end of this month”, he said.
That followed satellite photos in July that showed China appeared to have built reinforced aircraft hangars on some of the disputed islands.
“This is what happened in Nicaragua versus the United States”.
Richard Heydarian, assistant professor of political science at Manila-based De La Salle University, said the Philippines is looking for investments from China for its domestic development, but the current relationship is “extremely toxic”.
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Ahead of Wang’s visit, Chinese State media is warning India to avoid “unnecessary entanglement with China over the South China Sea debate” if New Delhi “wishes to create a good atmosphere for economic cooperation”.
