Japan’s defence chief hits out at Beijing on South China Sea, military build-up

“China is engaging in unilateral and coercive attempts to alter the status quo based on its own assertions that are incompatible with the existing international order,” Kono on Sunday at the Doha Forum, an international conference in Qatar.

“The rule of law, which is of critical importance to global stability and security, is a value shared by the international community, including China,” he said, adding that countries cannot be permitted to expand their spheres of influence by force and “aggressors must be forced to pay the cost”.

Hiromi Murakami, a professor of international relations at the Tokyo campus of Temple University, admitted to being “rather surprised” at the tone of the minister’s comments.