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Japan, Philippines reaffirm rule of law in South China Sea

  (The Yomiuri Shimbun/ANN)
Tokyo
Thu, October 27, 2016

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Japan, Philippines reaffirm rule of law in South China Sea Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte (left) is shown the way by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe after a joint press conference following their meeting at Abe's official residence in Tokyo, Oct. 26, 2016. (AP/Eugene Hoshiko, Pool)

W

ith an arbitration court rejecting in July Beijing’s claims in the South China Sea, Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte said he hoped to defend his country’s rights to the area peacefully based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held talks in Tokyo with visiting Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, during which they confirmed their commitment to the rule of law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, after an arbitration court rejected in July Beijing’s claims in the area.

“I hope to make Japan-Philippines relations even more solid and develop them significantly,” Abe told Duterte at the opening of their meeting.

The Philippine president said he hoped to resolve the issues related to the South China Sea peacefully under the rule of law and based on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Abe reiterated Japan’s readiness to help the Philippines improve its maritime security capabilities by providing Japanese patrol vessels and taking other measures.

The leaders are also believed to have agreed to strengthen economic ties between their countries.

In addition to his finance, trade and other economy-related ministers, Duterte is also accompanied by about 200 businesspeople on his first visit to Japan since assuming the presidency. By attracting more investment and economic support from Japan, he aims to further boost his country’s economy, which is already achieving high annual growth of 6 per cent on an average.

Duterte’s predecessor, Benigno Aquino, promoted economic ties with Japan and agreed to cooperate on large-scale projects, including building of railway networks. The Japanese government intends to maintain such ties and strengthen them with the new Philippine administration, and to prioritize assistance to the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, Duterte’s home area.

The Japanese government’s willingness to offer economic assistance to the Southeast Asian nation comes against the backdrop of China’s aggressive maritime advances in the South China Sea, among other issues.

During the talks, Abe was expected to explain the United States’ role in security in the Asia-Pacific region, as Duterte has repeatedly criticized the US. The prime minister was also expected to call for the three countries to maintain cooperation.

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