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By Chen Guangwen: China.org.cn, May 22, 2012
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=20120521133824967.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/20120521133824967.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
On May 18, Philippine Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin said that the Philippines would acquire ten new patrol ships from Japan
to boost the country's territorial defenses in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). According to the Philippine media,
Japan plans to provide the country with ships including 1000-ton patrol vessels by the end of the year to support it in its
territorial disputes with China.
Besides the patrol ships, Japan made another breakthrough by signing an agreement with both the Philippines and United States
for its defense forces to use the U.S. army bases on Palawan Island and Luzon Island. The agreement allows Japanese defense
forces to station themselves on either island for long periods of time, thereby being able to support the U.S. army in wartime, and
contain China in the South China Sea when necessary.
Meanwhile, Japan is also forging closer ties with Vietnam, another country claiming sovereignty in this region. The leaders of Japan
and Vietnam have paid mutual visits to each other's countries and increased Japanese assistance to Vietnam has also been
interpreted as an anti-Chinese measure.
It is not hard to understand Japan's intentions. As a country outside the region, Japan's active engagement has two main purposes.
One is to distract China's attention from Diaoyu Island and the East China Sea. Japan wants to use the disputes between China and
other South East Asian countries as bargaining chips in its negotiations with China on the issue of Diaoyu Island. The second purpose
is to protect its interests relating to its freedom of navigation and resource development in the South China Sea.
<a href="http://s1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/?action=view&current=20120521133824967.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/jj559/365Wildfire/20120521133824967.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
On May 18, Philippine Defense Minister Voltaire Gazmin said that the Philippines would acquire ten new patrol ships from Japan
to boost the country's territorial defenses in the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea). According to the Philippine media,
Japan plans to provide the country with ships including 1000-ton patrol vessels by the end of the year to support it in its
territorial disputes with China.
Besides the patrol ships, Japan made another breakthrough by signing an agreement with both the Philippines and United States
for its defense forces to use the U.S. army bases on Palawan Island and Luzon Island. The agreement allows Japanese defense
forces to station themselves on either island for long periods of time, thereby being able to support the U.S. army in wartime, and
contain China in the South China Sea when necessary.
Meanwhile, Japan is also forging closer ties with Vietnam, another country claiming sovereignty in this region. The leaders of Japan
and Vietnam have paid mutual visits to each other's countries and increased Japanese assistance to Vietnam has also been
interpreted as an anti-Chinese measure.
It is not hard to understand Japan's intentions. As a country outside the region, Japan's active engagement has two main purposes.
One is to distract China's attention from Diaoyu Island and the East China Sea. Japan wants to use the disputes between China and
other South East Asian countries as bargaining chips in its negotiations with China on the issue of Diaoyu Island. The second purpose
is to protect its interests relating to its freedom of navigation and resource development in the South China Sea.
