Press Releases
Statement by the Press Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, on an Issue concerning the South China Sea (Arbitral Proceedings by the Philippines under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea)
1. On March 30, the Government of the Republic of the Philippines announced that it had submitted its documents presenting its case to the Arbitral Tribunal as part of the arbitral proceedings under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which was instituted last year as to the disputes between the Philippines and People’s Republic of China regarding the South China Sea.
2. The Government of Japan believes that the issue with regard to the South China Sea is directly related to the peace and stability of the region and is a common concern of the international community as a whole since the issue influences the international maritime order. Therefore, the Government of Japan regards that it is important for the parties concerned to act on the basis of the principle of “the rule of law” for the maintainance and enhancement of the international order in the region.
3. The Government of Japan supports the Philippines’ use of procedures under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea aiming at peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, as such an action contributes to the maintenance and enhancement of the international order in the region based on the rule of law.