ID :
209784
Tue, 09/27/2011 - 17:21
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/209784
The shortlink copeid
Japan, Philippines to boost maritime security ties on China concerns
TOKYO, Sept. 27 Kyodo - Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and visiting Philippine President Benigno Aquino agreed Tuesday to boost cooperation in ensuring maritime security in the wake of China's growing assertiveness in the South China Sea.
In an apparent attempt to keep Beijing in check, the two leaders agreed in a joint statement released after their talks that ''freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, and compliance with established international law...and the peaceful settlement of disputes'' benefit their countries and the whole region.
They also shared a view that these interests should be ''advanced and protected in the South China Sea,'' noting that maintaining peace and stability in that area was ''common interest to the international community'' because the sea is ''vital as it connects the world and the Asia-Pacific region.''
Strengthening ties in maritime affairs as well as in the political and economic fields are part of the two leaders' accord to enhance their strategic partnership to address regional and global concerns.
Noda and Aquino reaffirmed that their countries share the basic values of ''freedom, democracy, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.''
At a joint press conference, the Japanese premier said that agreeing to position their relationship as a strategic partnership marks ''significant progress'' given the countries' shared strategic interests, and voiced hope to work closely with the Philippines in regional frameworks.
''I was also satisfied with our exchange of views on regional concerns of mutual interest,'' Aquino said. ''Being both maritime countries, we affirmed our abiding interest in cooperating on maritime security issues.''
The Philippine president visited China in late August through early September and agreed with Chinese President Hu Jintao to resolve their territorial dispute peacefully and facilitate economic progress in the region.
The Philippines is locked in a maritime dispute with China over a chain of islands in the South China Sea known as the Spratly Islands.
Tokyo is also at odds with Beijing over China's claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. On Sunday and Monday, Chinese marine research ships were spotted sailing within Japan's exclusive economic zone around the Senkaku Islands.
According to the statement, Noda and Aquino agreed to promote cooperation between their maritime safety authorities through measures such as Japan's training of the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as exchanges between their defense and maritime authorities.
They also agreed to elevate their vice-ministerial policy dialogue to a vice-ministerial strategic dialogue, where global concerns such as counterterrorism measures will also be discussed.
The joint statement also touched on other regional concerns such as the Korean Peninsula, with Noda and Aquino urging North Korea to take concrete actions to pave the way for resumption of the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the peninsula.
The six party talks, which involve the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the United States, have been stalled since December 2008.
On the bilateral front, Noda and Aquino called for strengthening economic ties such as by promoting their economic partnership agreement signed in 2006. The Philippines is hoping to ease the entry of its nurses and caregivers into Japan. To date, only two health workers from the country have passed the license exams given by the Japanese government.
Noda promised to continue Japan's official development aid to the Philippines.
On the occasion of Aquino's visit, Japan signed a separate document with the Philippines to extend about 9.2 billion yen in loans to implement forest management projects to address disaster management and climate change.
Aquino, who on Monday visited the Miyagi Prefecture city of Ishinomaki, which was among the areas hard hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, told Noda at the outset of their meeting that the Philippines is ''ready'' to assist in rebuilding efforts.
Noda thanked the Philippines for its aid in the March disaster and extended an invitation to 400 Filipino college students to visit the disaster-hit area of Tohoku in northeastern Japan.
Aquino, who met with leaders of Japan's business sector during his four-day visit from Sunday, is in Japan as president for the third time. His previous visit was in August when he held a secret meeting outside Tokyo with Philippine Muslim rebel leaders.
In an apparent attempt to keep Beijing in check, the two leaders agreed in a joint statement released after their talks that ''freedom of navigation, unimpeded commerce, and compliance with established international law...and the peaceful settlement of disputes'' benefit their countries and the whole region.
They also shared a view that these interests should be ''advanced and protected in the South China Sea,'' noting that maintaining peace and stability in that area was ''common interest to the international community'' because the sea is ''vital as it connects the world and the Asia-Pacific region.''
Strengthening ties in maritime affairs as well as in the political and economic fields are part of the two leaders' accord to enhance their strategic partnership to address regional and global concerns.
Noda and Aquino reaffirmed that their countries share the basic values of ''freedom, democracy, fundamental human rights and the rule of law.''
At a joint press conference, the Japanese premier said that agreeing to position their relationship as a strategic partnership marks ''significant progress'' given the countries' shared strategic interests, and voiced hope to work closely with the Philippines in regional frameworks.
''I was also satisfied with our exchange of views on regional concerns of mutual interest,'' Aquino said. ''Being both maritime countries, we affirmed our abiding interest in cooperating on maritime security issues.''
The Philippine president visited China in late August through early September and agreed with Chinese President Hu Jintao to resolve their territorial dispute peacefully and facilitate economic progress in the region.
The Philippines is locked in a maritime dispute with China over a chain of islands in the South China Sea known as the Spratly Islands.
Tokyo is also at odds with Beijing over China's claim to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. On Sunday and Monday, Chinese marine research ships were spotted sailing within Japan's exclusive economic zone around the Senkaku Islands.
According to the statement, Noda and Aquino agreed to promote cooperation between their maritime safety authorities through measures such as Japan's training of the Philippine Coast Guard, as well as exchanges between their defense and maritime authorities.
They also agreed to elevate their vice-ministerial policy dialogue to a vice-ministerial strategic dialogue, where global concerns such as counterterrorism measures will also be discussed.
The joint statement also touched on other regional concerns such as the Korean Peninsula, with Noda and Aquino urging North Korea to take concrete actions to pave the way for resumption of the six-party talks aimed at denuclearizing the peninsula.
The six party talks, which involve the two Koreas, Japan, China, Russia and the United States, have been stalled since December 2008.
On the bilateral front, Noda and Aquino called for strengthening economic ties such as by promoting their economic partnership agreement signed in 2006. The Philippines is hoping to ease the entry of its nurses and caregivers into Japan. To date, only two health workers from the country have passed the license exams given by the Japanese government.
Noda promised to continue Japan's official development aid to the Philippines.
On the occasion of Aquino's visit, Japan signed a separate document with the Philippines to extend about 9.2 billion yen in loans to implement forest management projects to address disaster management and climate change.
Aquino, who on Monday visited the Miyagi Prefecture city of Ishinomaki, which was among the areas hard hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, told Noda at the outset of their meeting that the Philippines is ''ready'' to assist in rebuilding efforts.
Noda thanked the Philippines for its aid in the March disaster and extended an invitation to 400 Filipino college students to visit the disaster-hit area of Tohoku in northeastern Japan.
Aquino, who met with leaders of Japan's business sector during his four-day visit from Sunday, is in Japan as president for the third time. His previous visit was in August when he held a secret meeting outside Tokyo with Philippine Muslim rebel leaders.
