PNoy open to talks, defense treaty with Japan amid China row

MANILA, Philippines - President Benigno Aquino III is open to discussing the possibility of a defense treaty with Japan as he attends the 40th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo this week.

Participating heads of states are expected to discuss from Dec. 12-15 issues surrounding Japan and its relations with the 10-member regional bloc, but Aquino said he is open to discussions on other issues, including the territorial disputes with China, which recently declared a new Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ).

"I don't recall a defense treaty with Japan," Aquino said in a televised chance interview with the media on Monday. "Will that be part of the talks? Siyempre anything that creates tension and instability is a concern for all."

"Everybody should be focused on maintaining a stable region so that we have the necessary milieu for expanding economies to the benefit of all our peoples," Aquino added.

Aquino noted that the United States (US) and Japan are the only two strategic partners for the Philippines.

Manila remains locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing, which is pressing its 'indisputable sovereignty' over the entire South China Sea through its nine-dash line claim.

Japan, on the other hand, also stands in a territorial row with Beijing in claiming parts of the East China Sea.

Some nations including the Philippines, Japan and the US also recently rejected China's ADIZ, which asks foreign aircraft to identify themselves and accept Chinese instructions.

The ADIZ is seen primarily as a bid to boost China's claim over uninhabited Japanese-controlled islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

On concerns that the Asian giant might set up a similar zone over the South China Sea, Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Ma Keqing said it was within the right of their government to decide "where and when to set up the new air identification zone."

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera said China’s plan to establish a same zone over the West Philippine Sea would increase tension.

“The United States, South Korea, Taiwan and European Union and other countries are expressing strong concern over this. If the new ADIZ will be set in South China Sea or the West Philippine Sea, I think the government of Japan needs to express its concern similarly to what we have stand in East China Sea,” Onodera was quoted as saying in a STAR report. -with the Associated Press

Read: ‘China’s planned ADIZ over West Phl Sea to trigger tension’ | Chinese ambassador to Phl: Beijing has right to set another air zone