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Japan to beef up defense cooperation with Vietnam

Japan to beef up defense cooperation with Vietnam

Wednesday, August 10, 2016, 15:28 GMT+7

Japan’s Ministry of Defense will boost cooperation with and assist Vietnam in reinforcing its defense capability whenever the Southeast Asian country asks for it.

During an exclusive interview with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, Shimpei Ara, head of the International Operations Division under the Japanese defense ministry, said that Vietnam’s defense situation is among Japan’s special interests.

Vietnam, along with other ASEAN member nations, relies on an essential sea route, Ara said, adding that the preservation of regional peace and stability is also important for Japan’s prosperity.

Against the backdrop of China enhancing its military and defense capabilities by building artificial islands in the East Vietnam Sea, Japan, Vietnam, and the international community have all expressed their concerns, the official said.

Beijing has publicly denied the ruling of the arbitration tribunal in The Hague, which rejected China’s nine-point territorial and economic claims across large swathes of the waterway, in a suit brought by the Philippines.

Japan has been urging China to comply with the decision and international law via multiple diplomatic channels, Ara continued.

The East Asian nation has also helped shore up Vietnam’s defense capabilities along with other countries' in the Asia-Pacific region in an effort to restrict China’s unilateral activities there, he added.

Assessing the role of Vietnam, Ara said that the nation has a significant influence in the maritime area, and hoped that Hanoi would join hands with Tokyo and other countries to ensure regional peace.

Vietnam needs to augment its naval force and coast guard units to increase its influence in the area, he asserted.

Based on the common visions of the two nations’ defense ministries, Japan has established several policies to cooperate with Vietnam, including all-level delegation exchanges between defense forces, multinational conferences, capability assistance, and more, Ara said.

Ties in new fields, namely non-traditional security, naval security and safety, and investigation and rescue, will also be forged, according to the Japanese official.

He reiterated the joint statements issued during a previous visit to Vietnam by Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani, which were aimed at preserving regional peace, opposing any actions that compromise stability, and respecting international law.

Based on the request of Vietnam, Japan’s defense ministry will continue to support the nation in building its defense capability, Ara added.

He expected that more vessels from the Japanese naval force would be able to dock at Vietnamese seaports during their international operations once collaboration between the two countries is cemented.  

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