PHL-Japan to tackle sea disputes in Manila talks – DFA

Both countries have had separate territorial disputes with China that have flared recently. The Philippinesis locked in a long-running dispute with Chinaover the South China Sea while Japanand Beijing are contesting ownership over islands called Senkaku by Japanand referred as Diaoyu in Chinese.

Japan has expressed its full support to the Philippines’ decision to bring its territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea before a United Nations arbitration tribunal, which recently convened in The Hague, Netherlands to discuss Manila’s complaint. The Philippine case will try to declare as illegal China’s massive claims over the resource-rich waters.

The South China Sea - a strategic waterway where a bulk of the world's trade pass – had been a source of conflict among competing claimants the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, China and Taiwan.

The vast waters – claimed by Chinanearly in its entirety - is dotted with islands, reefs, cays, shoals and rock formations and is believed to be rich in natural gas and oil deposits.

Analysts feared the competing claims could spark a military conflict in the region.

Japan is one of only two strategic partners of the Philippines apart from the United States.

In 2012, Japan was the Philippines’ number one trade partner and provider of official development assistance as well as the second major source of approved investments and third source of tourist arrivals.