Tokyo offers ASEAN 20 billion to halt Beijing’s hegemony
Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies) - In order to combat the economic and military expansion of China in the East China Sea, Japan has offered the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN) 20 billion dollars in aid and loans. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, made the announcement today at the ASEAN summit being held in Tokyo. The decision comes a few weeks after the Beijing declaration on a new area of identification for air defense ( Zida ) in the East China Sea , an area where the interests of Japan and China converge for control of the Senkaku / Diaoyu islands.
Abe pointed out that the funding
will be spread over a period of five years through loans and will be directed
to the economic development of the Mekong River region. In
this way, Tokyo wants to build consensus among the 10 member countries of ASEAN
: Indonesia, Malaysia , Philippines, Singapore , Thailand , Brunei, Vietnam ,
Laos, Myanmar , Cambodia. Among
them, the Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam share with Japan a number of
territorial disputes with China over the Spratly and Paracel islands. Speaking
at the meeting, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono stressed that "good relations
between China and Japan are crucial to the future of the region."
To
give a strong signal to Beijing , the 10 Member States of ASEAN signed a joint
declaration calling for the free passage of goods in the region , without
coercion and claims . While
not explicitly mentioning China's Zida the participants " reaffirm the
importance of maintaining peace , stability and prosperity in the region ,
promoting safety and freedom of navigation and the resolution ... of
disputes by peaceful means in accordance with the principles recognized by international
law".
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12/02/2016 15:14
10/01/2005
