PH, Japan wary of China’s actions

JAPANESE Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said the Philippines and Japan expressed serious concerns over China’s attempt “to unilaterally change the status quo by force” in the East China Sea and South China Sea.

He said such a move was “unacceptable.” Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reaffirmed their commitment to the freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas during their meeting in Malacañang on Friday.

President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida oversee the exchange of key agreements between the two countries and deliver joint press statements on Friday, November 03, 2023. Photos by Yummie Dingding/ PPA POOL 

In their joint press statement, the two leaders stressed the need for adherence to a “rules-based approach in resolving competing claims in maritime areas.”

“We share the serious concerns about the situation in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and that attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force is unacceptable,” Kishida said. “And we want to secure a route where the dignity of the people can be maintained and secure peace and safety in the world through international cooperation.”

The Philippines and Japan, two of the United States’ closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as aggressive behavior by Chinese vessels amid disputes over maritime sovereignty.

To strengthen their alliance, Marcos and Kishida have agreed to start negotiations on the proposed Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) to come up with a visiting forces deal.

An RAA is a legal framework seen to strengthen collaboration and facilitate exercises between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Japan Self-Defense Forces.

“A decision was made to start negotiations on the reciprocal access agreement (RAA), and [we] agreed to further strengthen trilateral cooperation among Japan, [the] United States and the Philippines,” Kishida said.

“We also confirm to further promote cooperation to improve the Philippines’ maritime law enforcement capabilities, including the provision of patrol vessels and defense equipment and technological cooperation, including the transfer of warning and control radar,” he added.