Japan plans no patrols for disputed isles

In his first visit to Hawaii as Japan’s defense minister, Gen Nakatani said it is important for the international community to “work more effectively” together to protect freedom of navigation, but he said Japan won’t be patrolling disputed islands in the South China Sea.

“As of now we don’t have any specific plan for giving constant surveillance activities,” he said Tuesday through an interpreter at U.S. Pacific Command headquarters at Camp H.M. Smith.

Nakatani made the comment following a meeting with Adm. Harry B. Harris Jr., head of U.S. Pacific Command. Since arriving Sunday, Nakatani has visited the cruiser USS Port Royal and the Sea-Based X-Band Radar — reflecting Japan’s interest in ballistic missile defense — and met with Navy, Army and Marine Corps officials.

He also made a stop at the Ehime Maru memorial and laid a wreath at the USS Arizona Memorial.

China’s island-building and claims to the South China Sea were omnipresent, with Harris noting to reporters that Nakatani just participated in ministerial-level meetings in Australia.

“One of my priorities and hopes is that we can continue to strengthen the trilateral relationship between Japan, the United States and Australia, and continue to build closer ties between Japan and the Republic of Korea, as each of our countries is firmly committed to maintaining peace throughout the region,” Harris said.

The United States “fully supports” Japan’s Cabinet decision on collective self-defense and “Japan’s assumption of a greater role in the region,” Harris said. Japan’s government passed legislation in September that allows greater cooperation with allies.

“And the U.S. will continue to maintain a robust military presence in Japan to meet our alliance obligations (and) our future security challenges, and enable greater cooperation and interoperability between our militaries,” Harris said.

In a freedom of navigation demonstration, the United States on Oct. 27 sailed the destroyer USS Lassen within 12 nautical miles of a Chinese man-made island at Subi Reef in the South China Sea that China claims as territory but that the United States contends is in international waters.

The United States is worried China might restrict commercial traffic in the vital international shipping route. While other countries in the region including the Philippines, Australia and Vietnam support the U.S. action, none has actually sailed a ship on a similar course.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently told President Barack Obama that Japan would “consider” engaging in some activity by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the South China Sea “while focusing on what effect the situation has on Japan’s security,” but then ruled out the step just days later, according to media reports.

Nakatani on Tuesday noted that Japan has worked on capacity-building with surrounding countries. Japan is providing patrol boats to Vietnam and the Philippines.

The United States also is working on upping maritime capacity, and plans to give the Coast Guard cutter Boutwell to the Philippine navy, the third ship of its class given to the country.