US-Japan-Philippines to strengthen maritime security- senior US diplomat

Tokyo: The Chinese threat to the security of the Indo-Pacific maritime region, which is rich in natural resources, is increasing consistently. Senior US diplomats announced that the United States, Japan and the Philippines would build security cooperation against this threat and for the security of maritime transport in the Indo-Pacific region. An urgent meeting of the senior military officers of all these three countries will be held in this regard. A few hours ago, the Philippines proposed using its military base for anti-China operations against the United States.

Over the last few months, aggressive Chinese military moves in the Indo-Pacific region have been a matter of concern. A few weeks ago, Chinese destroyers in the East China Sea sailed past the borders of the Japanese Senkaku and Okinawa islands. Last month, Chinese destroyers conducted war exercises in the northern sea area of Japan. Chinese destroyers intruded into Philippine waters and started exploring in the South China Sea area.

Along with the East and the South China Sea, the United States and Japan are accusing China of increasing intrusion in the Taiwan Strait. Last month, Chinese destroyers conducted live firing exercises in the Taiwan Strait. Also, China had publicly threatened Taiwan by practising taking over the Taiwanese islands. The United States, Australia, and Japan blamed the Chinese military activities are creating instability in the Indo-Pacific region and the other regional countries.

In such a situation, a meeting of senior officials of the United States, Japan and the Philippines was held in Tokyo, the capital of Japan, under the chairmanship of Deputy Chief of the US Embassy, Raymond Green. Japanese Deputy Defence Minister Kimi Onoda and Robespierre Bolivar, Senior Diplomatic Officer from the Philippine Embassy, participated in this. In this meeting, US diplomat Green criticized China for its military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, causing tension.

Raymond Green appealed, ‘No country can dominate the Indo-Pacific region using unilateral actions and threats. No one should shy away from criticizing provocative Chinese activities.’ Green alleged that the Chinese crackdown on foreign ships in the East and South China Seas violates international laws. Green explained that the United States, Japan and the Philippines would establish security cooperation against this Chinese aggression. A group of 20 military officers from these three countries will hold a two-day discussion regarding this military cooperation.