- Title: CHINA/PHILIPPINES: Philippines sees Japan as balance to China's ambitions
- Date: 10th December 2012
- Summary: MANILA, PHILIPPINES (DECEMBER 10, 2012) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF VEHICLES ALONG HIGHWAY PHILIPPINES FOREIGN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT BUILDING EXTERIOR PHILIPPINES AND ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS (ASEAN) FLAGS IN FRONT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS BUILDING REPORTERS TALKING TO PHILIPPINE FOREIGN AFFAIRS SPOKESPERSON RAUL HERNANDEZ (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RAUL HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "He ( the foreign minister) said that we actually would welcome a stronger Japan, which together with other partners would serve as a balancing factor in the region." REPORTERS LISTENING CAMERAMEN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) SPOKESPERSON FOR PHILIPPINES DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, RAUL HERNANDEZ, SAYING: "What we want Japan for the region is really for it to support the peaceful process of resolving the issues here and to be one of the partners as far as security alliances and partnership is concerned." REPORTERS ASKING QUESTIONS BEIJING, CHINA (DECEMBER 10, 2012) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF FOREIGN MINISTRY CHINESE NATIONAL FLAG FLYING CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI WALKING INTO REGULAR NEWS CONFERENCE JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) CHINESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN HONG LEI SAYING: "Now it's no longer the era of the Cold War, the issue of one country containing another one does not exist." REGULAR NEWS BRIEFING IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 25th December 2012 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Philippines
- Country: Philippines
- Topics: International Relations,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVAE1UDFY61NKUOS7I0MVZQIL33U
- Story Text: A stronger Japan would act as a counterbalance to the military rise of China, something that is worrying smaller Asian nations as tensions grow over conflicting territorial claims in the region, the Philippines said on Monday (December 10).
Rivals claims to the South China Sea, and its likely oil and gas wealth, have made it Asia's biggest potential flashpoint. China claims the largest area, putting it at loggerheads in particular in recent months with Vietnam and the Philippines.
Other claimants are Taiwan, Brunei and Malaysia.
"What we want Japan for the region is really to, for it to support the peaceful process of resolving the issues here and to be one of the partners as far as security alliances and partnership is concerned," Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez said.
He said no one country has the capacity to address the security requirements of the region, and it is in the Philippines' interest to have stronger alliances.
The comments echo those of Foreign Minister Albert del Rosario in an interview with the Financial Times newspaper published on Monday, when he said that Japan "could be a significant balancing factor."
The dispute is testing the unity of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and also dragged the United States into the debate just as it is pushing to raise an already strong military profile in the region.
Beijing said Philippines' idea of "containment" was out of date.
"Now it's no longer the era of the Cold War, the issue of one country containing another one does not exist," said foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei at a regular news briefing on Monday.
Japan will hold a general election on December 16 that is expected to be won by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
LDP leader Shinzo Abe has promised to loosen limits on the military in Japan's pacifist constitution and stand up to China over disputed isles in the East China Sea. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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