By: Lilybeth Ison, PNA, Xinhua, and Pots de Leon, InterAksyon.com January 10, 2013 8:27 PM <\/p>\n
InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 <\/p>\n
MANILA, Philippines - As the Philippines on Thursday got Japan's backing in peacefully addressing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, China on the same day announced that it would launch this year a national survey on its territorial islands that include areas being claimed by the Philippines. <\/p>\n
According to Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario, Japan, which also has a dispute with China over Senkakus Islands, was \"aware of the magnitude of the challenge\" of resolving the conflict. <\/p>\n
He said that both the Philippines and Japan \"understand that the assertions being made by China in terms of their nine-dash line claim... do pose threats to the stability of the region.\" <\/p>\n
Del Rosario made the statement during a news briefing in Malacanang on Thursday after the courtesy call of visiting Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida on President Benigno Aquino III. <\/p>\n
Japan has committed to empower the Philippine Maritime Security in terms of its multi-role response vessels, which will be funded by the Japanese government, according to Del Rosario. <\/p>\n
\"We also discussed this communication system for maritime safety which also would be for the benefit of the (Philippine) Coast Guard,\" he said. <\/p>\n
Del Rosario also said that both countries had agreed on the need to ensure the \"freedom of navigation\" in the region. <\/p>\n
According to the DFA chief, this freedom is being threatened by China's claim to practically all territories in the West Philippine Sea. <\/p>\n
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China to launch surveys on disputed islands; Japan backs PH in sea row<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" By: Lilybeth Ison, PNA, Xinhua, and Pots de Leon, InterAksyon.com January 10, 2013 8:27 PM InterAksyon.com The online news portal of TV5 MANILA, Philippines - As the Philippines on Thursday got Japan's backing in peacefully addressing territorial disputes in the West Philippine Sea, China on the same day announced that it would launch this year a national survey on its territorial islands that include areas being claimed by the Philippines. According to Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Albert del Rosario, Japan, which also has a dispute with China over Senkakus Islands, was \"aware of the magnitude of the challenge\" of resolving the conflict Continue reading