VIENTIANE—Japan and Vietnam backed the country’s claim over disputed territories in the South China Sea in separate bilateral talks at the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit here Tuesday.
The two nations expressed the support when President Rodrigo Duterte met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Vietnam President Trần Äại Quang.
Peace Process Secretary Jesus Dureza said that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed his country’s support to the Philippine claim, vowing that Japan “will come to the support of the Philippines in its South China Sea claims who share common values of mutual respect, cooperation and adherence to the rule of law.”
During the meeting, Duterte also accepted Abe’s invitation to visit Japan.
Duterte likewise thanked Japan for its significant role in the development of the Philippines, most especially in Mindanao and expressed appreciation to Japan for its decades-long commitment to the peace and development of the Bangsamoro Region.
Abe said Japan remains committed to its participation in the socio-economic development of the Philippines, advancement of the two countries’ defense cooperation, and provision of quality infrastructure to the Philippines.
Abe reiterated his commitment to further promote regional peace and stability, cooperate in counter-terrorism measures, and continue the regular and productive tradition of high-level exchanges.
In an interview, Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella told reporters Tran also promised Duterte that Vietnam, another claimant country in the disputed waters, to support the Philippine claim, but would focus more on the welfare of the fishers greatly affected in the maritime row.
“The South China Sea issue. They talked about how—everybody agreed that there must be freedom of navigation but on the whole, it was a very positive exchange. So that’s about it,” Abella said.
Both countries assail China’s nine-dash line claims which they used as justification of its claim and both have committed to a multilateral diplomatic approach to the resolution of disputes in the South China Sea with the UNCLOS taken to account.
Vietnam has formally supported the Philippines in its arbitration case against China over its nine-dash claim over the South China Sea.
The two leaders agreed on the necessity of continuing law enforcement cooperation and projects which will strengthen maritime capabilities of the Philippines.
During his bilateral meeting with Singapore PM Lee Hsein Loong, Abella said that Duterte basically echoed the Philippine position of pursuing the Philippine claim, without further infuriating China.
The President marked his first foreign trip at the Asean summit here in Vientiane.