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Shangri-La dialogue: Japan PM Abe to urge security role Shangri-La dialogue: Japan PM Abe urges security role
(about 9 hours later)
Japan will push for a greater role in Asian security at a regional summit on Friday, in a move set to anger China. Japan's PM says his country will play a greater role in regional security and support South-East Asian countries in territorial disputes with China.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to promote Japan as a counterbalance to China at the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. Shinzo Abe made the comments at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.
The summit involves the US and Asean countries, and comes amid territorial disputes in the South China Sea between China, Vietnam and the Philippines. The three-day summit involves the US and South-East Asian countries, and comes amid growing tensions between China, Vietnam and the Philippines.
Japan-China ties are also strained over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Chinese officials said Mr Abe was using the "myth" of a China threat to strengthen Japan's security policy.
Mr Abe will give the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, which is also known as the Asia Security Summit, on Friday evening. Japan-China ties have also been strained over disputed islands in the East China Sea.
He is expected to set out a vision of Japan and its ally, the US, playing a greater role in security co-operation in Asia. 'Seas and skies'
Regional defence officials and US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel will be at the event. Mr Abe gave the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, also known as the Asia Security Summit, on Friday.
Ahead of the meeting, Mr Hagel said he would raise issues "where we think China is overplaying its hand and presenting new challenges and new tensions to this area". Japan, he said, would play "a more proactive role than it has until now in making peace in Asia and the world something more certain".
'Threat to security' "Japan will offer its utmost support for the efforts of the countries of Asean [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] as they work to ensure the security of the seas and the skies."
Japan's top government spokesman, Yoshihide Suga, said Mr Abe would call for "constructive discussions... towards [Asia's] peace and safety". Mr Abe added that he supported efforts by the Philippines and Vietnam to resolve territorial disputes with China.
"Heightening situations in the South China Sea and the East China Sea" made this particularly important, Mr Suga added. Earlier this month, the Japanese prime minister called for a new interpretation of the country's constitution, which currently bans "the threat or use of force" to settle international disputes.
China's delegation, led by Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying, is expected to describe Tokyo, not Beijing, as a threat to security. China, which had parts of its territory occupied by Japan during World War Two, has criticised the move.
China has been angered by Mr Abe's call for a new interpretation of Japan's constitution, which bans acts of war and "the threat or use of force" to settle international disputes. On Friday, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Fu Ying, who is also at the summit, said Mr Abe was "trying to amend the security policy of Japan" in a move that was "worrying for the region".
Some countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) will be reluctant to antagonise China due to their economic and political ties. Mr Abe had exacerbated regional tensions and the "myth" that China was "posing a threat to Japan", she added.
However, relations with other countries have deteriorated amid increased conflict over territorial disputes. Analysts say that although some Asean members will be reluctant to antagonise China because of their economic and political ties, others are likely to welcome an increased role from Japan.
'Overplaying its hand'
China continues to unsettle its neighbours after declaring an air defence zone in the East China Sea and taking a more confrontational stance over disputed islands in the South China Sea, the BBC's Sharanjit Leyl in Singapore reports.
The forum is a chance for senior delegates from the region to meet face to face and attempt to resolve tensions, our correspondent adds.
Beijing claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea that covers areas other South East Asian nations say are their territory.Beijing claims a U-shaped swathe of the South China Sea that covers areas other South East Asian nations say are their territory.
On Tuesday, a Vietnamese fishing boat sank after it collided with a Chinese vessel near a controversial oil rig in the South China Sea, with both countries blaming the other for the incident.On Tuesday, a Vietnamese fishing boat sank after it collided with a Chinese vessel near a controversial oil rig in the South China Sea, with both countries blaming the other for the incident.
Vietnam has protested against China moving its oil rig to waters also claimed by Hanoi, at a spot near the disputed Paracel Islands.Vietnam has protested against China moving its oil rig to waters also claimed by Hanoi, at a spot near the disputed Paracel Islands.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is in the process of taking China to a UN court over its territorial claims in the South China Sea.Meanwhile, the Philippines is in the process of taking China to a UN court over its territorial claims in the South China Sea.
Earlier this month, the Philippines arrested and then charged nine Chinese fishermen with poaching at a disputed shoal. US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel said he would use the summit to raise issues "where we think China is overplaying its hand and presenting new challenges".