MUCH IS expected from President Aquino’s state visit to Japan come June 2-5, as this could affirm previous commitments to help our country push our interest in the West Philippine Sea. Although this visit will cover many other important concerns, including economic cooperation and growing tourism opportunities, its significance to the critical developments in the West Philippine Sea and the actions of China will definitely be the trip’s headliner.
The anticipation of Japan’s collective self-defense that could benefit the Philippines as a friendly country, in terms of greater military cooperation, could also be discussed. This is important in our hopes to shore up aid for the “modest” modernization program of our military. Japan’s current policies limit its role to helping its allies develop its military capabilities.
That being said, this trip will definitely draw some outrageous statements from China, which has a beef on every claimant country in the south and east China seas. Those statements will eventually draw a louder condemnation of China’s activities in those parts of the world from the international community.
—BENITO R. CASTRO, benitorcastro@yahoo.com.ph