Kishida's Vietnam visit to focus on maritime security

Kyodo news agency quoted a source from the Japanese Government as saying Kishida is scheduled to meet with Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minster Pham Binh Minh in Hanoi to speed up consultations on Japan's provision of patrol ships for Vietnam to better cope with China's rising maritime assertiveness in the East Sea.

High on the agenda will be China’s recent provocation in the East Sea and East China Sea. The two FMs are expected to affirm that Tokyo and Hanoi will never tolerate any attempt to alter the status quo through coercion or force. 

They are also likely to reach a consensus on the increase of communications with the Philippines and other ASEAN members to deal with Beijing's territorial ambitions. 

Minh and Kishida will agree to urge ASEAN and regional powers at a regional security forum slated for early August in Myanmar to act in unison over China’s moves. 

China has escalated tension in the East Sea after deploying its drilling rig Haiyang Shiyou-981 deep inside Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. It has also frequently dispatched patrol boats to Senkaku/Diaoyu islands claimed by both Japan and China.