Japan key in Philippines' buildup in disputed sea -envoy

MANILA, Philippines — Japan is a key player in strengthening Philippines' monitoring capacity in the West Philippine Sea, a maritime area partly claimed by neighboring China, a Philippine envoy to Japan said.

Charge d’affaires Gilberto Asuque, Philippine Embassy in Japan's deputy chief of mission, said Japan has been supporting a major component of President Aquino's foreign policy in dealing with the longstanding sea dispute.

"Japan supports the Philippines' policy to raise our capacity and level of awareness for maritime domain capacity to monitor," Asuque said in an interview with RTVM Malacañang last week.

The statement came ahead of Aquino's working visit in Japan and a scheduled meeting Tuesday with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The two heads of state are expected to discuss maritime security concerns and the implementation of the Bangsamoro Peace Treaty in Mindanao.

Read: P-Noy to meet Japan's Abe today

Asuque said that Japan has been assisting the Philippine Coast Guard in acquiring 10 patrol vessels to be deployed in the country's western seas that have seen  China's encroachment in previous years.

"These are 40-meter, multi-response vessels for purposes of increasing the capabilities of the Coast Guard to monitor the maritime domain, exclusive economic zone, and effectively enforce Philippine laws within that maritime zone," he said.

Three of the vessels are expected to be delivered next year, while the remaining seven may be commissioned by the early part of 2016, Asuque said.

He added that Tokyo is also coordinating with Manila in setting up a telecommunications system to enable new vessels to be in constant contact with the Coast Guard's command and control center under the Department of Transportation and Communications.

Japan, which is also embroiled in a bitter dispute with China over the East China Sea, is also helping its Southeast Asian neighbor in training its Coast Guard personnel.

It also expanded its assistance to maritime environmental protection, safety of navigation and "all aspects that will strengthen the capacity of the Philippines and its implementing agencies to enforce its sovereign right and entitlement under law," Asuque said.

Outside the domain of security, Japan has had significant contributions to the victims of the devastating typhoon Yolanda that hit the Visayas in November last year.

"The assistance came not only from Japanese government but also from private citizens of Japan. They have made private contributions to the efforts of the Philippines to assist the victims of the typhoon," he said.

Philippines' contribution to Japan

The Philippines, meanwhile, is being tapped by Japan to help alleviate the effects of its demographic downturn, with a significant part of its population in its retirement without being replaced by younger workers to support the economy.

"In terms of the assistance or cooperation of the Philippines to Japan , we all know that the main endowment of the Philippines is really the skills of its Filipino workers," Asuque said.

Filipinos are skilled technical workers, caregivers and nurses who have met Japanese professional standards, the embassy official explained.

"So we are contributing at least to the manpower needs of Japan in light of the current demographic situation," Asuque said.