|
 News of the deliberations came as Japan and the United States
unveiled new defense guidelines during a visit to Washington by
Japanese Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, reflecting his plans for Japan to
take on a wider security role beyond the direct defense of its home
islands.
While no concrete plans had yet been formulated, Japan could join
U.S. patrols in the South China Sea, or operate patrols in rotation
from the Japanese island of Okinawa on the edge of the East China
Sea, the Japanese source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
So far the discussion is within the Japanese military, but any move
to begin patrols would need civilian approval.
Japanese air patrols in an area where China is pushing disputed
territorial claims, including though a massive program of land
reclamation, would risk antagonizing Beijing.
But defense officials in Tokyo worry that doing nothing would allow
China to eventually impose its authority over a region through which
$5 trillion of sea-borne trade passes ever year - much of it heading
to and from Japan.
"We have to show China that it doesn't own the sea," said the
Japanese source.
FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION
A U.S. military source said a decision to begin flights in the South
China Sea could prompt Tokyo to ask the Philippines for access to
air bases under disaster relief training and other joint training
exercises. This would give Japanese aircraft added range to stay out
on patrol longer, he said, also speaking on condition of anonymity.
A senior Philippine military source said such access would not
currently be possible, because Manila does not have any military
co-operation agreement with Tokyo similar to the pact it has with
Washington, which allows U.S. ships to use its bases to re-fuel,
re-supply and make emergency repairs.
But Philippine President Benigno Aquino, one of the most vocal
regional critics of China's reclamation program, is due to meet Abe
in Tokyo in June, when the South China Sea issue is certain to be
discussed.
U.S. President Barack Obama told reporters after talks with Abe on
Tuesday that the two countries shared concerns about China's
reclamation and construction activities in the South China Sea and
were "united in our commitment to freedom of navigation and respect
for international law".
He said the new defense guidelines meant U.S. and Japanese forces
would be more flexible, and that Japan would "take on greater roles
and responsibilities in the Asia-Pacific".
Neither he nor Abe detailed what those roles might be.
Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and Foreign Minister Fumio
Kishida dodged questions about the possibility of joint patrolling
of Asian sea lanes when pressed at a news conference with U.S.
counterparts on Monday, saying legislation in Japan had still to be
worked out and regional countries consulted.
Speaking at a daily briefing in Beijing on Wednesday, Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said the United States and Japan
were "not involved in the South China Sea issue" and should not do
anything to "complicate the situation".
[to top of second column]
|
REGIONAL COUNTERWEIGHT
The United States has a squadron of Lockheed Martin <LMT.N> P-3
Orion patrol planes and a squadron of new Boeing <BA.N> P-8 Poseidon
sub-hunting aircraft in the region, six of which are stationed in
Okinawa.
Japan operates a fleet of 70 P-3s in the seas around Japan and is
due to deploy about 20 new Kawasaki Heavy <7012.T> P-1 patrol
aircraft with twice the range of the older Orions over the next five
years.
In an interview in January, Admiral Robert Thomas, commander of the
U.S. Seventh Fleet, told Reuters that Washington would welcome
Japanese air patrols in the South China Sea, because their presence
would provide a stabilizing counterweight to a growing fleet of
Chinese fishing and naval vessels.
Thomas's comment, which was criticized by the Chinese government,
was quietly welcomed by some Japanese defense officials. It helped
"break down a psychological barrier" that had made discussion about
possible operations in the South China Sea a taboo, a Japanese
defense ministry source told Reuters.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department said it was "not aware
of any official plans or proposals for Japan to patrol the South
China Sea" but welcomed "a more active role for Japan in ensuring
stability and security in East Asia and globally, including in
addressing maritime security challenges".
A senior U.S. defense official said last week details of future
activities would have to be worked out as Japan completed domestic
legislation needed to expand the role of its defense forces as it
reinterprets the limits of its pacifist post-war constitution.
China claims about 90 percent of the 3.5 million sq km (1.35 million
sq mile) South China Sea. The Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, Brunei
and Vietnam also claim large parts.
At a regional summit in Malaysia on Monday the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) released their most critical
statement yet of China's building of man-made islands on disputed
reefs, which Washington and Tokyo worry will become military bases
to police the area.
ASEAN said that China's reclamation program "eroded trust and
confidence and may undermine peace, security and stability".
(Additional reporting by Manuel Mogato in Manila and Ben Blanchard
in Beijing; Editing by Alex Richardson)
[© 2015 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.]
Copyright 2015 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |
