Reuters-Japan PM Kishida cooperating with Philippines US to protect South China Sea
November 4, 2023 2 min 418 words
这篇报道涉及到日本总理岸田文雄与菲律宾和美国合作，旨在保护南中国海的自由。这是一个重要而复杂的地区，中国声索几乎整个南中国海，而菲律宾和日本等国则对中国的行为表示担忧。 日本与菲律宾达成协议，开始谈判一项相互军队进入协议，以加强两国的军事合作。这反映了中国在该地区日益自信的举动。同时，中国声称拥有南中国海几乎全部领土，包括文莱、印尼、马来西亚、菲律宾和越南的专属经济区的部分，这引发了长期争议。 这一合作的目标是通过合作维护受法律和规则约束的海洋秩序，而不是通过武力。日本还承诺提供菲律宾沿海监控雷达，这是其官方安全援助计划的一部分，旨在提高东京与伙伴国的威慑能力。 总的来说，这一报道表明，日本、菲律宾和美国正在合作，以维护南中国海的稳定和法律秩序，这对该地区的和平与安全具有重要意义。然而，这也可能引发中国等国家的担忧和反应，因此需要密切关注后续发展。
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Saturday his country, the Philippines and the United States were cooperating to protect the freedom of the South China Sea as he committed to help enhance Manila's security capabilities.
"In the South China Sea, trilateral cooperation to protect the freedom of the sea is under way," Kishida, on an official visit, said in an address before the Philippine congress in the capital Manila.
Kishida and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr agreed on Friday to start negotiations on a reciprocal troop access deal to strengthen military cooperation as China becomes increasingly assertive in the region.
The Philippines and Japan, two of the United States' closest Asian allies, have taken a strong line against what they see as aggressive behaviour by Chinese vessels amid decades-old disputes over maritime sovereignty.
China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis.
"Japan will continue to contribute to the enhancement of the Philippines' security capabilities, thereby contributing to regional peace and stability," Kishida said.
Japan in March observed U.S.-Philippine military drills, and in June the Philippine and Japanese coast guards trained together for the first time.
"Through these efforts, let us protect the maritime order, which is governed by laws and rules, not by force," said Kishida, who in December unveiled Japan's biggest military build-up as it looks to counter China's growing military might.
Japan does not have any claim to the South China Sea, but has a maritime dispute with China in the East China Sea.
Kishida said Japan agreed to provide the Philippines coastal surveillance radars, the first cooperation project in the world under its Official Security Assistance programme, aimed at helping boost deterrence capabilities of Tokyo's partner countries.
"Japan intends to further deepen strategic cooperation with the Philippines in the future," said Kishida, who is to make a stop at the Philippine Coast Guard on Saturday before leaving Manila.
Kishida said his country's relationship with the Philippines had reached a "golden age."
Last month China and the Philippines traded accusations over a collision in the disputed waters of the South China Sea as Chinese vessels blocked Philippine boats supplying forces there.