Japan, US vow to counter Beijing’s assertiveness in South and East China seas

Name: Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions
Uploaded: 2020-08-29T10:27:18.000Z
Duration: 2 min 32 s
Description: Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions

Taro Kono and Mark Esper said Tokyo and Washington will strongly oppose countries unilaterally changing the status quo in the disputed waterways

At a meeting in Guam, they also discussed enhanced cooperation between the two allies in fields such as outer space and electronic warfare

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US Defence Secretary Mark Esper. Photo: AP

Kyodo

Published: 6:27pm, 29 Aug 2020Updated: 7:08pm, 29 Aug 2020

Japan’s Defence Minister Taro Kono and US counterpart Mark Esper agreed in Guam on Saturday that they will keep China’s maritime assertiveness in the South and East China seas in check.

“As for the South and East China seas, we confirmed that Japan and the United States will strongly oppose countries unilaterally changing the status quo by force,” Kono said in an online press conference after meeting with Esper at Andersen Air Force Base.

Beijing is involved in territorial disputes with Tokyo and a number of other Asian neighbours in the waters.

Kono said Esper had confirmed that Article 5 of the US-Japan security treaty applies to the East China Sea islets, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. Article 5 stipulates Washington’s commitment to defend Tokyo.

Pentagon officials said China fired four ballistic missiles into the South China Sea on Wednesday in an apparent warning to US reconnaissance planes flying near areas where Beijing has been conducting naval drills.

Kono told Esper the launch could help destabilise the region and that he will monitor the situation with concern, according to a Japanese defence ministry official.

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Washington’s hardened position on Beijing’s claims in South China Sea heightens US-China tensions