Visiting Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and Philippine Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin vowed cooperation in handling territorial disputes in East and South China Seas during a meeting here Thursday. "We agreed that we will further cooperate in terms of defense of remote islands as well as defense of territory or territorial sea as well as protection of maritime interest,"Onodera told reporters after one-hour meeting with his counterpart Gazmin.

Japan is"very concerned" because the situation in the South China Sea could also affect the developments in the East China Sea, he added.

Onodera also voiced Japanese support for the Philippines in its efforts to bring the dispute with China for arbitration by the United Nations.

He said"We are facing common concerns and that the issues or those concerns should be solved based on rule of law."

For his part, Gazmin said"We have agreed to continue our exchanges of information, exchanges of technology to help each other to make the defense relations (between the two countries) stronger."

Onadera arrived in Manila on Thursday morning for a two-day visit to the Philippines. Endi

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