Japan supports Phl's legal move on South China Sea dispute

MANILA, Philippines - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed support over the Philippines's initiation of arbitral proceedings to clarify maritime zones in the South China Sea, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) reported on Thursday.

Maritime security topped the agenda in the meeting between DFA Secretary Albert del Rosario and Abe at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Thursday, the state agency said.

DFA said Del Rosario's courtesy call further strengthened the strategic partnership between the Philippines and Japan, both in a territorial row against China over Scarborough Shoal and Senkaku islands, respectively. The Philippines has filed an arbitration case before the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to clarify the issue.

The Cabinet member also briefed the Japanese prime minister on the Philippines's pursuit of diplomatic and political channels to address its maritime concerns.

Del Rosario is concluding a two-day visit to Tokyo, having been invited to the annual Nikkei International Conference on the future of Asia. He also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida, Japan International Cooperation Agency Vice President Hiroto Arakawa and Representative Katsuyuki Kawai, chair of the foreign relations committee of Japan’s House of Representatives, DFA said.

Japan is the country's top trade partner and provider of official development assistance.