Although Japan is not a claimant in the South China Sea, it is concerned about the safety of sea lanes and freedom of navigation in the area, said Yuki Tamura, deputy director of the Foreign Ministry’s Regional Policy Division. “About 80 per cent of our imported crude oil as well as other shipments are transported through the South China Sea,” said Tamura, who oversees the issue. The South China Sea issue is directly connected to the peace and stability in the region and thus a matter of justifiable concern to the international community, including Japan, he said. With the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ruling in favour of the Philippines against China over its expansive territorial claims in July, Japan expected that the parties’ compliance with the award would lead to peaceful settlement of disputes in the South China Sea, he said. Japanese scholars expected their government to do more to help countries in the South China Sea boost their maritime defence capacity.

Source: The Nation Bangkok November 21, 2016 07:50 UTC