MANILA – Japan reiterated its position that no country is allowed to unilaterally conduct its maritime law enforcement in a manner that is inconsistent with international law.
Not mentioning any country, Japanese Ambassador ENDO Kazuya posted the statement on X, as an apparent swipe at the new procedure issued regarding the Chinese Coast Guard law, known as Order No. 3, which empowers the CCG to arrest trespassers and hold foreign nationals for up to 30 days without trial or investigation.
The said order will take effect on June 15, according to reports.
Endo posted the statement as he made a courtesy call to Presidential Assistant on Maritime Concerns (PAMC) Secretary Andres Centino recently, as both officials engaged in “meaningful discussion on significant maritime concerns and challenges, and navigated avenues for cooperation towards safer and peaceful seas.”
Meanwhile, the Embassy of Japan in Manila echoed Endo’s statement, saying “Japan has maintained the position that it does not recognize law enforcement activities that are not based on international law.”
“This stance remains unchanged to this day and was reiterated during the ambassador's courtesy call on Mr. Andres Centino, the presidential Assistant for Maritime Concerns,” the Embassy stated.
Last May 2024, Centino, who is the former chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), reiterated the country’s need to beef up its naval defenses to fully secure its maritime zones.
"With the imperative to secure our maritime zones, we need to double our effort in strengthening the Philippine Navy as the forerunner in territorial defense. As I stated way back in 2022 (when I was) still as a Chief of Staff," said Centino, during the Navy's Maritime Security Symposium 2024 held in Quezon City last April.
Meanwhile, Japan and the Philippines has been negotiating a military cooperation pact that will allow Japanese troops to engage in military exercises and humanitarian activities in the country.
In a recent interview with journalists on the sidelines of the Swedish National Day reception last week, Department of National Defense (DND) Sec. Gilberto Teodoro said that both countries are “very close to signing” the reciprocal access agreement (RAA) that aims to facilitate military cooperation, easier transfer of equipment for the visiting force and to conduct humanitarian missions.
Kyodo News reported that the access agreement will be signed in July during a meeting with foreign and defense ministers from both countries in Manila.
