Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, during his visit in Malta, at Valletta, Saturday. Photo: AP
politics

Abe, Malta's PM affirm importance of rule of law at sea

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Abe played the Malta card on china! he's a sneaky guy our Abe, china will be running for hills now.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I thought I would never see the day a Japanese PM visited my country! We need more Japan- EU cooperative ties for sure! More relations with Japan would be a great thing!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Great! The story about Japan's brave destroyer squadron based in Valetta during WWI needs retelling; such naval courage, yet so few remember.

There is a solid book in Japanese written by Kataoka Kakutaro and edited by Clive Nichol, published by Kawade, called 日本海軍地中海遠征記 2001. Not sure if it is available in English.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Abe: think the rule of law is important?

Muscat: yup!

Abe: Me too!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

China beware! Malta is going at you!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

I wonder which law Abe is thinking of. Could it be the law that states that artificial islands, such as the ones created by China, do not have a right to an exclusive economic zone? But that would also include Okinotorishima, for which Japan claims a huge EEZ, but legally that claim is invalid.

Perhaps Abe can demonstrate his respect for the law by withdrawing Japan's claim to an EEZ for Okinotorishima? Or is it only other countries that are expected to follow the law?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Scrote: "Perhaps Abe can demonstrate his respect for the law by withdrawing Japan's claim to an EEZ for Okinotorishima? Or is it only other countries that are expected to follow the law?"

B-b-b-b-b-b-b-but that's diffewent!

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Abe is an international trouble maker. He lied in three ways: 1 Japan has no sovereignty over Shenkakus, 2 There is no dispute in South China Sea over sovereignty claim by China, 3 Japan has no right to navigate international water militarily.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

They don't look very happy.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

" Scrote May 28 08:16 pm JST

I wonder which law Abe is thinking of. Could it be the law that states that artificial islands, such as the ones created by China, do not have a right to an exclusive economic zone? But that would also include Okinotorishima,"

What country or countries are making a claim on Okinotorishima? Obviously no country has taken Japan to arbitration over it, unlike the ones in the South China Sea.

"mulan May 28 10:02 pm JST

Abe is an international trouble maker. He lied in three ways: 1 Japan has no sovereignty over Shenkakus, 2 There is no dispute in South China Sea over sovereignty claim by China, 3 Japan has no right to navigate international water militarily."

If you/China thinks so, then take them to the ICJ. Why hasn't China done so? Because it would open the door to similar suits by other countries regarding the South China Sea, and China knows it has no legally valid arguments for their claim.

Yes there is a dispute. The International Permanent court of Aribitration has ruled that China has no sovereignty to the artificial islands, but China refuses to recognize or comply with the ruling because it has no respect for the rule of law.

Wrong. Every nation including Japan has the right of passage in international waters regardless of the type of vessel.
3 ( +3 / -0 )

I can assure you that most Americans don't even know Japan was in WWI, let alone what role Japan played in that war.  If it hasn't already been done the story of the Sakaki would make a good movie, and  Japan's role in WWI would be great for the History Channel.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@OssanAmerica Today 06:25 am JST

No ICJ can determine Chinese sovereignty. International laws are abused not only once, but many many times. Japan has been the abuser.

The arbitration, as well as UNCLOS, recognized Chinese right to reject the arbitration and stated clearly that it would not rule on sovereignty, nor it has the right to do so. Japan returned paracel and spratly's Taiping Island back to China, together with Taiwan, where is the dispute ? Taiping Island was ruled as a rock by the court, but Japan used it as an Island to attack Philippines. How could Abe open his mouth to ask Chinese to respect the ruling which is based on bias and lies?

Japan has history to incite violence in South China Sea. Japanese military is not welcomed in South China Sea and inteernational law forbids Japan to show forces anywhere in this world.
-3 ( +0 / -3 )

OssanAmerica: Nobody disputes Japan's claim to Okinotorishima. What is disputed is Japan's claim of a 200 nm EEZ around the rock. Under the law, rocks which cannot support economic activity, and artificial islands, cannot have an EEZ. This is the law Japan is ignoring.

Mulan: Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and others all dispute the unelected Chinese dictatorship's claim to sovereignty over various parts of the South China Sea. Maybe this news is censored in China and you aren't aware of it, but covering your eyes and ears won't make it go away.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Scrote Today 08:26 pm JST

Unelected Chinese dictatorship ? China is recognized by almost all nations, a permanent members of the United Nations Security Council. Where is your legal basis for your statement?

Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam and others all dispute claim to sovereignty over various parts of the South China Sea? Dispute must be legally based. That is why we need international law. paracel as an example, Vietnam govt recognized Chinese claim in 1957, Japan returned them back to China at the end of WW2. By the law, there should be no dispute. If Japan follow the rule, she should not lie to the world that there is a dispute.

Kalayaans as another example, China claimed it in 1945, while PH claimed it in 1979. When China made the claim, PH didn't protest, while when PH made the claim, China protested. By the law, it is clearly that China has the sovereignty over it. Where is the dispute and why Japan proactively incite the dispute?

Does Japan want have a war among Asian people again?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Mulan: If you think China isn't ruled by an unelected dictatorship I suggest you try setting up your own political party and standing in an election. You will be arrested and jailed the moment you start campaigning.

You keep talking about the importance of laws, but the unelected Chinese dictatorship does not even respect it's own laws, never mind international law. The top leaders are absolutely corrupt, the legal system is perverted and serves only the party, and the constitution is routinely ignored.

This is why China rejected the Philippine's victory in the UN tribunal: China does not respect any laws. The only thing China respects is force.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

@Scrote Today 05:44 pm JST

Chinese leaders have more supports from Chinese then Abe from Japanese. Call it undemocratic if you wish.

If Chinese leaders corrupted, they will be jailed. If Japanese leaders corrupted, they will be defended. Call it against laws if you wish.

It will be stupid if PH considered the Award as a win. The ruling is flawed, failed to protect Chinese rights and failed to recognize historical fact and failed to uphold laws. China and PH have dispute, only small part of South China Sea, what is PH basis to ask the court to rule on the whole Chinese claim that has nothing to do with PH? How could the court rule on Chinese territory without China's sovereignty permission?

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

Mulan: President Xi Jinping's brother in law, Deng Jiagui, is listed as sole director of three offshore companies. This is against Communist party rules. Why is he not in jail? There are many other examples where close family of President Xi have unexplained wealth but are not in jail. This is corruption that is not punished due to the lack of independence of Chinese courts.

The best way to solve this problem would be to allow free elections so that the crooks can be voted out and then jailed, but that is not allowed by the dictatorship.

I notice that you now agree that China and the Philippines have a dispute "China and PH have dispute, only small part of South China Sea", whereas you originally stated "There is no dispute in South China Sea over sovereignty claim by China,". I'm glad you agree that there is a dispute. International law should be used to settle these disputes, and the first step should be China's acceptance of the UN tribunal ruling. China agreed to accept these rulings when it joined UNCLOS.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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