Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 1) — The Japanese Embassy in Manila has clarified that there are no discussions yet on possible joint patrols in the South China Sea among Japan, the Philippines, the United States and Australia.
In a statement sent to CNN Philippines, the embassy said the leaders of Japan and the Philippines agreed in improving defense engagements.
\”Both leaders welcomed deepening defense engagements through the participation of the Japan Self-Defense Forces in the Philippines-US joint exercises and committed to further enhancement of defense exchanges through JP-PH-US trilateral dialogues,\” the embassy statement said.
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Tokyo added that so far, no talks have been held yet on the possibility of joint patrols with their allies but they are ready to cooperate with their partners to promote maritime law enforcement in the Indo-Pacific region.
\”As of now, there is no specific plan or discussion about the alleged \”joint patrol\” among JP, PH, US, and AUS,\” the embassy added. \”Japan will explore the possibility of cooperating with partners to reinforce Maritime Domain Awareness and the maritime law enforcement in the Indo-Pacific.\”
RELATED: PH, Australia exploring joint patrols in West PH Sea
In an interview with Reuters, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez said that Australia and Japan may join the proposed joint patrols in the South China Sea between Manila and Washington.
\”Meetings have already been set and probably we may have the Japanese and the Australians join in,\” Romualdez told Reuters.
\”They would like to join in for joint patrols to make sure that there’s the code of conduct and there’s freedom of navigation,\” the envoy also said.
Romualdez added that a joint patrol between the four countries is still an “idea under discussion.”
PH-US joint patrols in West PH Sea ‘on the table’
In an interview in January, Romualdez said joint maritime patrols between the Philippines and US was on the table in the face of increasing geopolitical tension in the region.
\”We will continue to improve that [military] alliance including the joint patrols if we need to do that, but as I’ve said the cooperation between the Philippines and the United States is very solid,\” Romualdez pointed out..
