Japan Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday said in light of a decision of an arbitral tribunal at The Hague regarding the South China Sea dispute, Japan would actively participate in preserving harmony and stability in the region. “So we reported to two secretaries concerned, National Security Adviser, Vice Admiral (Vicente) Agdamag and the Department of Foreign Affairs represented by Ambassador Lea Rodriguez”, Ramos said.
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The Philstar news website also reported that Ramos had been welcomed to China as a special envoy appointed by Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte.
Meanwhile, Mr Ramos said the Philippine Congress must decide whether late dictator Ferdinand Marcos should be buried in a heroes’ cemetery.
During a media briefing, Yasay and Kishida agreed that the rule of law must prevail to peacefully resolve the maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
A sinking Chinese fishing boat was rescued by the Japanese Coast Guard near the East China Sea, amid an ongoing feud between both countries over disputed islands in the area.
China’s reclamation work in the region, which includes the building of airfields, has prompted the United States and its allies to express alarm over the maritime expansion, which they suspect is aimed at extending its military reach.
Beijing claims most of the South China Sea, through which more than US$5 trillion in annual trade passes.
Fidel Ramos, a former Philippine president, returned from a week in Hong Kong on Friday where he had “back-channel” talks with senior officials to improve soured relations between China and the Philippines.
“As to where this will take place, we don’t know yet”.
“We invoke and urge China to make sure that maritime security and the rule of law must completely and uncompromisingly be respected”, Yasay said in his statement.
The idea, Ramos said, was that “we restore the fishing rights according to the rights accorded by tradition”, which means that fishermen from the two countries, as well as from Vietnam, would be allowed in the shoal.
Ramos said he is hopeful that these talks would lead to bigger talks.
Ohtaka said the Philippines, Vietnam and other claimants needed to find a peaceful solution to the disputes in the South China Sea but without pressure from the worldwide community, “I don’t think anything [will] happen”.
“This is not the kind of action that is mandated by global law”, Yasay told the news conference, referring to what he said the Philippines and Japan saw as Chinese intimidation and provocation in connection with their disputes.
Tensions quickly escalated, resulting in a standoff, and eventually in Manila seeking global arbitration.
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A statement signed by Ramos, Fu and Wu yesterday said that in addition to marine conservation and fishing rights, the two nations should cooperate on tourism, investment, and cracking down on drugs and corruption.
