The military wanted Japan to chip in to its ongoing modernization by providing to the country assets and equipment that could be used in areas of humanitarian assistance and disaster response and maritime-domain awareness.
Defense Secretary Voltaire T. Gazmin admitted on Monday that he provided his Japanese counterpart a “military wish list” that could help the country stand up to the challenge of responding to calamities and natural disaster and increased patrol of its territorial waters.
However, the defense chief refused to disclose these types of assets, other than “everything that could address our maritime security.”
Earlier, the Navy wanted Japan to provide them with brand-new patrol boats, which it could be used in patrolling and securing the country’s territorial waters, especially in the West Philippine Sea where Chinese military and paramilitary vessels are a regular sight.
Gazmin was in Tokyo last week for the Japan-Philippines Defense Ministerial Meeting wherein he met with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani.
Japan is currently locked in a territorial dispute with China over a portion of the East China Sea, while the Philippines is battling off an aggressive China over its territory in the West Philippine Sea.
During their meeting, Gazmin and Nakatani agreed that any dispute should be settled peacefully and without the use of force or coercion, in accordance with basic principles of international law.
They also reaffirmed the importance of the freedom of navigation and overflight in the high seas as they briefed each other on the situations in the East and South China Sea.
Gazmin welcomed Japan’s efforts in actively contributing to the peace and stability, not only in the region but around the world, in partnership with the international community.
Gazmin and Nakatani highlighted the progress of bilateral cooperation and exchanges between the two countries through the high-level exchanges, vice ministerial dialogue and Japan Self Defense Force’s contribution to the relief operations during Supertyphoon Yolanda.
(Business Mirror)
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