Japan, Philippines Share Concerns over Radar Incident Involving China

Tokyo, Dec. 18 (Jiji Press)–Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro held a teleconference on Thursday and shared grave concerns over a recent incident in which a Chinese military jet aimed its radar at Japan Air Self-Defense Force jets. The two defense chiefs also voiced concern over a joint flight of Chinese and Russian bombers near Japan. They reaffirmed their strong opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, apparently referring to China’s actions in the East and South China seas. Following the entry into force in September of the bilateral reciprocal access agreement that facilitates mutual visits between Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the Philippine military, Koizumi and Teodoro agreed to strengthen operational cooperation between the two sides. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]