Ramos was speaking near the end of a trip to Hong Kong undertaken in an attempt to rekindle ties with China, which have been soured by a maritime dispute in the South China Sea.
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Former Philippines president and special envoy to China, Fidel Ramos, has said that Manila wants to initiate formal talks with Beijing over the South China Sea dispute.
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”.
He did not say which “think-tanks” would be involved in these issues, apparently referring to the two countries’ territorial dispute over the South China Sea.
Ramos said there would be a second round of discussions soon.
However, asked if he would delve on the topic about the ruling, Ramos previously said in a press conference in Philippine capital Manila that “it is not [him] who will raise that issue”.
Mr. Kishida was in the city to call on President Rodrigo R. Duterte on the occasion of the 60th normalization of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Japan.
China has rejected the ruling of the UN-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, insisting it has “undisputed sovereignty” over the South China Sea, but Ohtaka said “the worldwide community needs to stick to its position, no matter how long it takes”.
Meanwhile, Beijing-run media yesterday warned Vietnam about military deployment in the South China Sea by reminding it that the last time the two countries went to war it was China that won.
The statement said the discussions were held in a private capacity, and Ramos said later other back channel talks with China were underway.
Insisting it had “undisputed sovereignty” over the South China Sea, China refused to take part in the proceedings and rejected the tribunal’s ruling, calling it “waste paper”.
Members of the Phillippine coastguard pose as pirates while Japan Coast Guard PLH02 TSUGARU sails past during the Joint Maritime Law Enforcement (MARLEN) Exercise between the Japan Coast Guard (JCG) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), at vicinity waters off Manila Bay, Philippines, July 13, 2016.
The disputed East China Sea has been overpopulated with vessels in recent days, due to both the fishing season and also as China and Japan assert their presence there.
He said Ramos’ fence-mending trip to Hong Kong could help lower tensions raised by the SCS dispute.
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“The Philippines should look for ways to cooperate with our neighbors to preserve marine ecosystems in the South China Sea and to ensure the sustainability of fishing resources for everyone”, he said in the same forum.
