The survey by Goldman Sachs Asset Management provided the latest evidence that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s unprecedented stimulus to revive the economy is failing to win investors’ confidence. The two leaders met on Thursday night at the close of the Apec summit.
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“It’s important that we continue showing the SDF has a presence in this neighborhood”, a senior defense ministry official said, referring to the South China Sea.
Suga said Japan has taken measures to proactively contribute to peace in the region such as assisting capacity building efforts by the Philippines, Vietnam and other countries that have overlapping claims with Beijing in the South China Sea.
Japanese Premier Shinzo Abe’s policies, including increasing the defense budget, lifting a ban on arms exports, visiting a shrine that memorialises Japan’s war dead, along with convicted World War II criminals and reinterpreting the pacifist constitution to allow Japan to defend other countries, have sparked concern in China and South Korea.
During their 90-minute meeting on November 19 at a Manila hotel, Abe expressed Japan’s support for the U.S. Navy’s “freedom of navigation” operations in the South China Sea to counter China’s territorial claims surrounding its man-made islands.
The Philippines and Japan are embroiled in separate sea disputes with Beijing in the South China Sea and East China Sea respectively. “The SDF has no plans to participate in the USA freedom of navigation operations”.
“We would like to accelerate the examination of the early signature and finalization of the negotiations and a cooperation in the area of ocean security”, Kawamura said.
The Philippines and Japan have agreed to work together for the signing of a deal that would enable the transfer of defense equipment to the Philippine military in the wake of China’s aggressive expansion in the South China Sea.
“There was a request from President Benigno Aquino regarding the provision of large patrol vessels to the Philippine Coast Guard and Japan would like to consider the specifics”, Mr Abe said in a statement.
There have been media reports that Tokyo would supply Manila with three used Beechcraft TC-90 King Air aircraft suitable for maritime surveillance in the South China Sea.
“At the same time, we confirmed the importance of partnership in the global community based on the rule of law to protect open, free and peaceful seas”, Abe also said.
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Obama is making his second visit to Malaysia in two years. It comes amid allegations by United States lawmakers and rights groups that his administration ignored Malaysia’s abuse of trafficking victims to ensure its accession to his Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement. The prime minister has come under pressure himself after it was revealed in July that almost $700 million in unexplained deposits were placed into his personal bank accounts.
