okyo – Visiting Philippine President, Benigno Aquino, on Wednesdays said his country’s relations with Japan was key to defending regional maritime security, amid growing tensions over China’s land reclamations in the South China Sea.
“The prosperity of maritime and coastal East and South-East Asia relies greatly on the free movement of goods and peoples.
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“It is at risk of being disrupted by attempts to redraw the geographic limits and entitlements outside those clearly bestowed by the law of nations,’’ Aquino told the Japanese parliament.
Aquino, who arrived in Tokyo on Tuesday for a four-day State visit, said that Philippine and Japan were the “most vocal defenders of regional stability which has recently come under threat.’’
The president is scheduled to hold talks with Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, on Thursday.
Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the sea, the near entirety of which China claims.
Report says tensions between Japan and China are also high due mainly to differing perceptions of wartime history and a territorial dispute over a group of uninhabited islets in the East China Sea.
The Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands were also claimed by China and Taiwan, where they are known as Diaoyu and Tiaoyutai, respectively.
Aquino said he is paying close attention to deliberations on Japan’s security legislation in the country’s parliament.
The security-related bills were aimed at greatly expanding Japanese military operations abroad, indicating a major overhaul of security policies.
“My nation is following with utmost interest and great respect these ongoing deliberations.
“This is particularly in view of Japan taking a more proactive stance in fulfilling its responsibilities to the international community for the maintenance of peace,’’ Aquino said. (dpa/NAN)
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