Vietnam and Japan have on Thursday jointly agreed on a solution that the international community should work positively together towards resolving the issue of the South China Sea “peacefully”.
According to ANI news reports, Japanese defence minister Takeshi Iwaya and Vietnamese defence minister general Ngo Xuan Lich held their bilateral dialogues, NHK reported, during which Japanese minister expressed “regret” over Beijing’s attempt to change the status of the South China Sea. He urged the international community to “speak up”.
China has been long claiming its sovereignty over the South China Sea and its unused 11 billion barrel of crude oil and 190 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Various nations have criticized China, saying it is breaching their territory.
However, Beijing has increased its military activities and movement into the sea in recent years by conducting naval patrol and exercises.
Lich and Iwaya also agreed to advance the bilateral cooperation between the Vietnamese military and Japanese self-defence forces in maritime security and in order to maintain stability and peace in the region. The two leaders have also vowed to work closely together towards the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said he will hold a face-to-face meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un in order to restore the diplomatic relations between the two sides – Japan and North Korean.
In his major policy speech to mark the opening of Japan’s parliament, Abe on Monday, pledged to push forward Japan-China ties “to a new stage” and also vowed a record budget in order to enhance crumbled infrastructure in the third biggest economy of the world.
Also read: Shinzo Abe willing to meet North Korea’ Kim, vows to restore ties; Pledges to boost Japan-China ties