Filipino and Japanese lawmakers signed an agreement in Manila on Wednesday that aims to promote the rule of law when dealing with territorial disputes at sea.

Congressman Rodolfo Biazon headed the Phillipines delegation while the Japanese delegation was led by Representative Hiroshi Nakada. Both lawmakers are members of their country's respective House of Representatives.

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The Joint Document for Cooperation on Promotion of the Rule of Law at Sea called for the use of peaceful means when settling territorial disputes at sea, and to avoid the use of force.

There is a need to raise awareness to other countries that the resolution of disputes must be made in accordance with international law, said Biazon.

Both sides agreed that territorial claims should be based on international law and coercion should not be used.

They also agreed to conduct joint efforts to establish a "Parliamentarians' League for Maritime Security in Asia" within their country's respective legislative bodies.   

Nakada said that Japan is trying to promote a similar agreement with Vietnam and other countries that are also affected by China's territorial claims in the region.     

He also explained that the agreement aims to make China aware that the world wants it to act responsibly and within the confines of internationally established principles.

Biazon clarified that the agreement is not yet considered as a national policy by both countries. The signing is only the first step and both sides still need to raise it to both their national governments.

Japan and China have a long standing dispute in the East China Sea over a group of islands called Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China. Tensions between the two countries intensified when China unilaterally declared an Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) last year which includes the airspace over the islands.

The Philippines and China also have a maritime dispute in the South China Sea. China claims most of the South China Sea including the Spratly Group of Islands and part of the Philippine's Exclusive Economic Zone.

TagsPhilippines-Japan Relations, Joint Document for Cooperation on Promotion of the Rule of Law at Sea, Maritime Security, Japan-Philippines Relations