Desk Report
Publish: 09 Apr 2022, 12:52 pm
Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Philippine defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana || Photo: Collected
Japan
and the Philippines agreed to boost security ties in their first foreign and
defence ministerial meeting on Saturday, amid worries over China's increasingly
assertive maritime activities.
It
was the first so-called two-plus-two talks between the two US allies, both of
which have overlapping territorial claims with Beijing.
"Our
two countries share the serious concern about the situation in the East and the South
China Sea and we agreed to ensure observing international laws including the
2016 arbitral award to the Philippines" in disputes with China, as well as
the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, Japan's foreign minister Yoshimasa
Hayashi said.
China
claims nearly all of the South China Sea, locking it into disputes with several
Southeast Asian neighbors.
In
2016, an international tribunal in The Hague invalidated China's claims in the
South China Sea in a first-ever ruling. Beijing has ignored the decision.
In
the meeting, "we were able to confirm our will to further enhance our collaboration
in dealing with regional and global challenges and our cooperation towards the
realization of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific", Hayashi said.
Areas
of cooperation include ensuring the safety of sea lanes in Southeast Asia and
discussion towards expanding joint military drills and exchanges, among others,
he said.
Philippine
defence secretary Delfin Lorenzana echoed that, saying "we exchanged views
on regional security issues of common concern, notably freedom of navigation
and overflight" and "compliance with international laws"
including the 2016 tribunal decision.
Besides
the Philippines, Japan has formed a two-plus-two framework with eight other
countries -- the United States, Australia, Britain, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, and Russia.
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Topic : Japan The Philippines Security Ties Asia
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