Top PH, Japan security strategists discuss cooperation vs 'destabilizing actions'
The top security strategists of the Philippines and Japan have agreed to work closely together to address “destabilizing actions” in the South and East China Seas.
This, as National Security Adviser (NSA) Eduardo Año spoke over the phone with newly designated Japanese National Security Adviser Okano Masataka on Monday, Feb. 17.
“NSA Año and NSA Okano discussed areas of cooperation to address destabilizing actions in the West Philippine Sea/South China Sea,” a statement from the National Security Council (NSC) read.
The two officials did not specify who they were referring to as the instigator of the destabilizing actions.
However, both the Philippines and Japan have faced aggressive actions from China due to overlapping territorial claims in the South China Sea and East China Sea.
China claims parts of the West Philippine Sea as well as the Senkaku Islands, triggering tense confrontations with Manila and Tokyo in previous years.
According to NSC, Año and Okano reaffirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and international law in the South China Sea and East China Sea, as well as the importance of upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific, and international rules-based order.
“The two NSAs confirmed Japan-Philippines security cooperation and concurred to continue to work closely with each other,” the NSC noted.
Año also congratulated Okano on his assumption of office.
Okano, erstwhile vice minister for foreign affairs of Japan, was named the top security adviser of his country in January.
Año and Okano then agreed to continue and promote the trilateral framework of cooperation that the Philippines and Japan have established with the United States under the new administration of President Donald Trump.