In an exclusive interview with NHK, President Marcos of the Philippines, who is visiting Japan, expressed a sense of urgency that tensions with China, which is at odds over the South China Sea, are further escalating, and expressed his belief that cooperation should be deepened in the security field as Japan and ASEAN have strengthened cooperation in the economic field.
President Marcos of the Philippines, who is visiting Japan to attend the special summit meeting between Japan and ASEAN = Association of Southeast Asian Nations, gave an exclusive interview to NHK in Tokyo on the 16th.
In his remarks, President Marcos expressed a sense of urgency about the increasing pressure of Chinese vessels in the South China Sea, such as water discharges and sabotage by Filipino vessels, saying, "Unfortunately, I have to say that tensions have increased rather than diminished in recent months, and the situation in the South China Sea is becoming more and more complicated."
In addition, in preparation for the special summit meeting, where discussions will begin in earnest from the 17th, he said, "We must clarify how to maintain peace, and all the countries involved must cooperate in the face of major developments," and as Japan and ASEAN have strengthened their cooperative relationship in the economic field, He also expressed his belief that cooperation should be deepened in the field of security.
On the other hand, President Marcos emphasized that the three countries, including Japan and the United States, will deepen their cooperative relationship, and expressed his intention to seek cooperation from more countries, including the implementation of joint exercises.
The conflict between the Philippines and China over territorial claims in the South China Sea
Among ASEAN countries, the Philippines has the deepest confrontation with China over territorial rights in the South China Sea.
In particular, the waters around the Spratly Islands, known as Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands, are at the forefront of the conflict between the two countries.
Since 1999, the Philippine government has stranded a warship on a reef and stationed soldiers there as a military base, and has continued to carry out replenishment activities every month, but since the beginning of the year, violent sabotage by the Chinese side has occurred one after another.
Since August, Chinese coast guard vessels have been using water cannons to spray water, and on the 8th of this month, a Philippine military supply ship was damaged and ships from both countries collided when it was blocked.
In addition, the Philippine government has pointed out that the Chinese side is sabotaging using large fishing boats manned by "maritime militias" that have received military training in addition to coast guard and navy ships, and on the 10th of this month, 10 ships, the highest number since the beginning of this month, have been confirmed in the sea area.
Next to Second Thomas Reef is Mischief Reef, which China effectively controlled in 46, and China has been reclaiming it since 1995 and is promoting the development of a military base, such as building a 2015,3000-meter-class runway where military aircraft can take off and land.
In addition, the Philippine government has announced that the Chinese side has barred Filipino fishing vessels from fishing grounds at Scarborough Shoal off the coast of Luzon, and has protested to the Chinese side that more than 130 Chinese vessels were confirmed to be sitting in the Philippines' exclusive economic zone this month at Whitsan Shoal in the Spratly Islands.