President Aquino and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have reaffirmed their commitment to assuring the freedom of flight in international airspace amid China's establishment of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ).
"We reiterated our commitment to uphold the rule of law, promote the peaceful settlement of disputes, and to assure freedom of flight in international airspace," President Aquino said, however, stopping short of mentioning China, with whom the Philippines is locked in a territorial dispute with.
Aquino and Abe met ahead of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-Japan Commemorative Summit in Tokyo.
The leaders of the 10-nation bloc is meeting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo this weekend to mark the 40th anniversary of ties.
Concerns over Beijing's ADIZ have been mounting since last month. It has been criticized by South Korea and Taiwan, while the United States and Japan have defied it by sending aircrafts right through the zone.
China earlier defended its ADIZ, saying it is merely exercising its right to defend itself.
Beijing also said, it might set up a similar air defense zone in the West Philippine Sea.
Aside from the Philippines, several other Asean countries are also involved in territorial disputes with China.
source: Yahoo - ANC
No comments:
Post a Comment