Manila should stop playing with fire

The Philippines held two military drills, one with the United States and the other with Japan, this week in the South China Sea, where it has several maritime disputes with China. The drills included a P-3C surveillance aircraft belonging to Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force, which for the first time took part in a military exercise in the South China Sea, and reflect Manila's attempt to use its military alliances with Washington and Tokyo to create disturbance in the Southeast Asian region.

In an interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV on June 15, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized that Japan will never wage a war again and its new security bills will not lead to a military conflict with China. But by agreeing to export P-3C Orion patrol aircraft, equipped with aerial surveillance system, and possibly normal weapons to the Philippines, Japan is out to violate international laws that forbid states to sell weapons to countries in a disputed region. Also, Japan's attempts to intervene in the South China Sea issue are not conducive to maintaining peace.

Japan has a much bigger plan for taking part in the joint drill in the South China Sea: support countries which have maritime disputes with China, including Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, to confront China. Therefore, Tokyo is using Manila only as a tool to clear the way for future military intervention in the South China Sea, which contradicts Abe's claim.