(VOVworld) – Japan and Malaysia both called for claimants in the East Sea dispute to exercise self-restraint and resolve maritime disputes peacefully in accordance with international law, including the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
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Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) and Malaysian Prime Minister (Photo: Xinhua/VNA)
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The remarks were made at a joint press conference following talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak in Tokyo on Wednesday.
Malaysia is among the ASEAN countries that are in a dispute with China over some part of the East Sea. Although Japan is not a claimant, it opposes any unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and calls on countries to respect freedom of navigation in the East Sea.
During Prime Minister Najib Razak’s visit to Japan, the two leaders singed an agreement for Japan to supply two used patrol vessels to Malaysia. Earlier, Japan also gave patrol vessels to Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam to enhance their maritime security.