Japan reaffirms backing for rules-based international order in East Sea

Scarborough Shoal (Photo: philstar.com)

Hanoi (VNA) - Japan strongly supports compliance with the 2016Arbitral Tribunal Award on the East Sea arbitration case, Japanese Ambassadorto the Philippines Kashikawa Kazuhiko has twitted.

He affirmed that ensuring a rules-based, free and open orderin the sea is a legitimate concern of the international community, includingJapan, as it has been a vital sea lane and needs to remain free and open.

Regarding the recent incident around Scarborough Shoal, thediplomat reiterated Japan’s position that any actions by force or coercion areutterly unacceptable.

The rules-based international order is more important thanever for every country, regardless of its size, he added.

The Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling, issued on July12, 2016, rejects China’s irrational claim over 80 percent of the East Sea./.

VNA