MANILA, Philippines – SINABI ni Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. na labas ang Tsina at hindi dapat nakikialam sa bilateral agreement sa pagitan ng Pilipinas at Japan lalo pa’t ito’y isang internal affair sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa.
“The RAA (Reciprocal Access Agreement) is a bilateral agreement between Japan and the Philippines so it is a matter internal to Japan and the Philippines. So, it is actually none of China’s business because China would then be interfering in the internal affairs of both Japan and the Philippines,” ayon kay Teodoro.
“If I state a comment regarding something that, for example, their economic, coercive diplomacy or whatnot, they will say that I’m interfering in their internal affairs, same thing here,” dagdag na wika nito.
Ang pahayag na ito ni Teodoro ay tugon sa sinabi ni Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian na “the exchange and cooperation between countries should not undermine the mutual understanding and trust between other countries in the region.”
“It should not threaten regional peace and stability, target any third party, or harm the interests of any third party. The Asia-Pacific region does not need any military bloc, still less groupings that incite bloc confrontation or a new Cold War,” ang sinabi pa rin ni Lin.
“Any move that undermines regional peace and stability, and harms regional solidarity and cooperation will be met with vigilance and opposition from people in regional countries,” ayon pa rin kay Lin.
Araw ng Lunes, Hulyo 8, kapuwa nilagdaan ng Pilipinas at Japan ang Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) na naglalayong pataasin pa ang defense cooperation sa pagitan ng dalawang bansa sa gitna ng patuloy na pagtaas ng tensyon sa South China Sea.
Ginawa ang kasunduan matapos mag-courtesy call si Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko at Defense Minister Kihara Minoru kay Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Sa ilalim ng kasunduan, papayagan ang Japanese forces na sumali sa taunang military exercises ng Pilipinas at Estados Unidos kabilang dito ang “Balikatan” exercises.
Papayagan din ang Japanese forces na magbigay ng humanitarian assistance sa Pilipinas kapag kinakailangan lalo na tuwing may sakuna at kalamidad.
Kailangan naman na ratipikahan muna ng Senado ng Pilipinas at National Legislature ng Japan ang kasunduan bago ito maging epektibo.
Kabilang ang Japan sa hayagang nagpapahayag ng pagkaalarma sa tensyon sa South China Sea.
Samantala, sa isang kalatas, binigyang diin nina Teodoro at Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo at kanilang Japanese counterparts, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa at Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, ang “the need for the international community to speak out on the importance of maintaining and strengthening the free and open international order based on the rule of law.”
“Japan bears serious historical responsibilities for its aggression and colonial rule over the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries during World War II,” ayon kay Lin.
“Japan needs to reflect on that part of history and act prudently in fields related to military and security,” aniya pa rin. Kris Jose
