Japan and ASEAN agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of maritime security

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea, a vital trade corridor, and its increasing deployment of ships and other methods to assert its claims in the disputed territories has alarmed states across the region and Washington.

Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to “strengthen dialogue and cooperation to support maritime safety and security, the rule of law-based maritime order, including freedom of navigation and overflight, and security and unhindered trade,” said a joint statement after a summit in Tokyo meeting.

Without naming China, it said the countries would “increase awareness of the maritime domain, as well as cooperation between coast guards and relevant law enforcement agencies, strengthen cooperation in maritime capacity-building, and ensure that disputes are resolved through peaceful means, without the threat or use of force, in accordance with universally recognized principles of international law”.

Close US ally Japan, which also has territorial and other disputes with China, is increasing defense spending and expanding security cooperation with countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Saturday, Japan announced that it will strengthen ties with Malaysia and allocate 400 million dollars. ¥2.6 million for warning and monitoring equipment.

Last month, Japan agreed to help the Philippines buy coast guard ships and supply a radar system, and the two countries are negotiating permission to deploy troops on each other’s territory.

Last week, Tokyo expressed serious concern over what it said were dangerous actions following a recent clash between Philippine and Chinese ships in which the Chinese ships fired water cannons.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said in an interview with Japan’s public broadcaster NHK on Saturday that the situation in the South China Sea is becoming more and more complicated.

His office quoted him as saying that a more aggressive China was a real challenge to its Asian neighbors and that Manila would strengthen cooperation with Tokyo, Washington and other like-minded countries through joint exercises.