Japan’s Kishida, Vietnam’s Pham vow to work to tackle China in nearby waters

Tokyo and Hanoi have been deepening bilateral relations, as they have been involved in territorial disputes with Beijing in the East and South China seas
Cooperation comes days after Vietnam criticised the recent conduct in the South China Sea of a Chinese research ship and the Philippines coastguard

Japan

KyodoandReuters

Published: 10:48am, 22 May 2023

Why you can trust SCMP

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh agreed on Sunday to join hands to tackle China’s territorial claims in the nearby waters to ensure regional peace and stability.

Kishida and Chinh held talks on the sidelines of the Group of (G7) summit in Japan’s western city of Hiroshima, in which the leaders from the advanced economies discussed how to counter China’s increasing military assertiveness in the Asia-Pacific region.

Tokyo and Hanoi have been deepening bilateral relations, as they have been involved in territorial disputes with Beijing in the East and South China seas, respectively.

Japan pledged to provide official development aid worth around 60.98 billion yen (US$440 million) to fund Vietnam’s infrastructure projects and policy steps to prop up the economy from the fallout of the coronavirus pandemic, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

The collaboration between Tokyo and Hanoi comes after Vietnam last week criticised the recent conduct in the South China Sea of a Chinese research ship and the Philippines coastguard, accusing its neighbours of separate actions that were violating its sovereign rights.

Chinese and Vietnamese vessels confronted each other last week on multiple occasions as a Chinese research ship moved within Hanoi’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), which experts said was likely a survey that. Such a survey would usually be considered hostile if conducted without notification.

Vietnam’s foreign ministry spokesperson Pham Thu Hang said the Chinese vessels were “violating the sovereign rights and jurisdictions of Vietnam”, which was taking “appropriate measures” to defend its rights.

China said that scientific research was a normal activity in areas under Chinese jurisdiction.

03:47

The Philippines anchors buoys in disputed South China Sea to counter Beijing’s claims

Hanoi also rebuked Manila for placing navigational buoys in five areas of its EEZ to assert sovereignty over the hotly disputed Spratly Islands, parts of which Vietnam also lays claim to.

Asked about the Philippines’ move, Hang said: “Vietnam strongly opposes all acts violating Vietnam’s sovereign rights.”

Tensions are currently high in contested parts of the South China Sea, one of the world’s most important trade routes and a conduit for more than US$3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce.