Yasay and Kishida urged Beijing to observe the rule of law after an worldwide tribunal rejected its claims to most of the South China Sea.
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“We have asked the Philippines charge to come into the State Department to clarify those remarks”, State Department spokeswoman Elizabeth Trudeau said.
A newly launched high-resolution imaging satellite will help China protect its maritime rights, the official China Central Television (CCTV) broadcaster reported on Wednesday amid growing tensions over disputed territory in the South China Sea.
Former Philippine president Fidel Ramos speaks to journalists on Friday during a trip to Hong Kong. Responding to the recent Chinese incursions into waters administered by Japan, Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said, “The situation surrounding the Japan-China relationship is significantly deteriorating”.
“There was no discussion on that particular aspect except to mention equal fishing rights”, he said.
Acknowledging the talks, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying last night said that “we noted that Fu Ying and Wu Shicun met with their old friend Ramos in Hong Kong”.
The statement said both parties agreed on the need for building trust, and the officials “reiterated that they are here in their personal capacity and were pleased with the discussions and looked forward to the beginning of a process of formal discussions which will be continued in Beijing and Manila and other possible venues”.
In its July 12 ruling, the five-member Arbitral Tribunal upheld Manila’s position that China’s “nine-dash line” maritime claim is excessive and encroached into the Philippines’ 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
In April, two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyers made a historic port call at Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, which has strategic importance, as it fronts the South China Sea.
Mr Ramos said neither side asserted their own sovereignty over disputed areas in the South China Sea, such as the Scarborough Shoal.
Ramos said he is hopeful that these talks would lead to bigger talks.
Ramos, who was president from 1992 to 1998, said on Monday he hoped his trip would promote formal bilateral negotiations between the countries, and that nobody wanted “World War III”.
China seized the Scarborough Shoal in 2012, denying Philippine fishermen access, one of the factors that prompted Manila to seek arbitration.
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Ohtaka said, however, that “n$3 obody is giving up on Asean yet, a lot of things will be discussed and we will continue to focus on Asean”.
