Noy, Abe to discuss maritime row woes

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is scheduled to leave for Tokyo tomorrow for a luncheon summit meeting with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wherein common problems over China’s encroachment of maritime boundaries are on the agenda.

After both leaders have issued their respective statements, Aquino will fly to Hiroshima tomorrow afternoon where he will deliver the keynote address at the Consolidation for Peace for Mindanao Conference.

The Hiroshima event was organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Aquino will be accompanied by Secretaries Albert del Rosario of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and Voltaire Gazmin of the Department of National Defense, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda, Presidential Management Staff Secretary Julia Abad and Presidential Adviser for the Peace Process Secretary Teresita Deles.

The DFA, through spokesman Charles Jose, hinted last week that Aquino’s meeting with Abe is expected to enhance Manila’s “maritime cooperation” with Japan amid rising tensions in the West Philippine Sea.

“I’m sure that (sea row with China) will be, maybe, one of the topics that will be discussed when they talk about recent regional developments,” Jose said earlier.

Just like the Philippines, Japan -also a US ally - is at odds or has a territorial dispute with Beijing over Senkaku islands in the East China Sea. Manila is trying to prevent China from claiming the whole of the South China Sea.

“This meeting is an opportunity for them to discuss issues and exchange ideas, exchange views and update each other on what’s going on. We cannot rule in or rule out anything that the two leaders will be discussing,” Jose said.

“We can see so much developments happening in the South China Sea, East China Sea. So I’m sure they will be sharing views and exchanging views on this issue,” he said.

Among the issues expected to be discussed in the bilateral meeting are regional developments and “areas of cooperation to enhance strategic partnership” between the two countries whose diplomatic relations reached nearly 50 years.

“These areas of cooperation include humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime cooperation, promotion of trade and investments, people-to-people exchanges and the Mindanao peace process,” Jose said.

“With regard to the South China Sea, it is very important for the President to brief the Japanese side on the arbitration case that we filed against China. I’m sure the President will be updating the Prime Minister on the status of our case,” he added.