Noy off to Japan next week

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino is scheduled to leave for Tokyo on June 24 to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who invited him for a meeting, Malacañang announced yesterday.

Like the Philippines, Japan has a territorial dispute with China, over the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Manila, for its part, is trying to prevent China from claiming nearly the entire South China Sea. Secretary Herminio Coloma of the Presidential Communications Operations Office told reporters that Aquino will also deliver the keynote address at the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) international conference in Hiroshima. “Before heading for Hiroshima, President Aquino and Abe will hold a meeting over lunch at the Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo. After speaking in Hiroshima, the President will return home to Manila,” Coloma said.

But the Palace spokesman refused to speak on the agenda of the meeting of the two heads of state, especially since tensions in the South China Sea continue, with Vietnam and the US criticizing Beijing for constructing a base in the area.

“In accordance with diplomatic practice, we will have to await a statement from the DFA (Department of Foreign Affairs) because matters like this are published or made known to the public on the mutual consent of both parties,” Coloma said.

It was reported earlier that Aquino would attend the JICA-sponsored Bangsamoro-Mindanao peace plan conference to be held in Hiroshima on June 24-25.

In August 2011, Aquino had a secret meeting in Japan with MILF chairman Al Haj Murad Ebrahim during which the President expressed his support for the creation of the Bangsamoro leadership and management institute.

The meeting was then expected to boost and fast-track peace talks being facilitated by Malaysia.

Aquino and Murad agreed during the meeting that all substantive and outstanding issues will be taken up at the negotiating table.

Last March, the Philippine government and the MILF finally signed a historic peace agreement.