Aquino, Abe agree to start talks for defense technology transfer

PRESIDENT Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have agreed to start negotiations on an accord for the transfer of defense equipment and technology, as the two nations aim to bolster security ties amid China’s increasing assertiveness at sea.

Meeting in Tokyo during Aquino’s state visit to Japan, the two leaders also shared their deep concerns over unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea, according to a joint statement they issued after the meeting, apparently with China’s recent rapid and massive reclamation work in mind.

At a time when such actions by Beijing have stoked tensions in and beyond Asia, the statement said Abe and Aquino underscored the importance of resolving maritime disputes based on international law and called for restraint in taking unilateral actions at sea.

Aquino earlier reiterated the need for stability in the region to achieve higher growth in his speech before the joint session of the National Diet of Japan.

Aquino said the partnership between the Philippines and Japan “provide a shining example of what can be achieved when peace and stability reign over our region.”

“The prosperity of maritime and coastal East and Southeast Asia, which relies greatly on free movement of goods and people, is at risk of being disrupted by attempts to redraw the geographic limits and entitlements outside those clearly bestowed by the law of nations,” he said.

He was referring to the ongoing reclamation activities of China at the West Philippine Sea, which resulted in the filing by the Philippines of an arbitration case before a UN Tribunal.

Also, China is being questioned by several other Asian countries regarding its decision to claim ownership over some islands at the South China Sea.

Similarly, Aquino said the Obama administration’s Asia rebalancing program “becomes a factor that has to be contented with, with those who would perhaps push the envelopes as what the agreements entitle them to or not.”

“So, I say again, America’s rebalancing sends a definite signal that we are all supposed to be living under norms that we agreed upon,” he said during the question and answer portion of the Nikkei 21st International Conference on the Future of Asia also on Wednesday.

Aquino cited that “entitlements and obligations are clearly spelled out under Unclos (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea), which the Philippines and China are signatories.

“Perhaps we have to be scrupulous in adhering to the tenets of international law, so that once again we achieve stability, we diffuse tensions and we can concentrate on making our people prosperous,” he added.

The Philippines has been very vocal on the call for the establishment of a binding Code of Conduct for the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea. –pna