Japan says US committed to protect disputed Diaoyu Islands from attack amid China tensions

Foreign minister Hayashi and Secretary of State Blinken also agreed to realise an early visit to the US by Japanese PM Kishida for his first summit

The two diplomats strongly opposed Beijing’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas during a phone call

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Japanese foreign minister Yoshimasa Hayashi. Photo: ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Published: 12:08pm, 13 Nov 2021Updated: 9:22pm, 13 Nov 2021

Japan’s new foreign minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, said on Saturday US Secretary of State Antony Blinken assured him in a phone call that Washington’s commitment to defending Tokyo, including southern islets claimed by China, was unwavering.

Tokyo’s ties with Beijing have been plagued by a territorial dispute over a group of Japanese-administered islands in the East China Sea, called the Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China, as well as the legacy of Japan’s past military aggression.

“Secretary Blinken stated that US commitment to defending Japan, including the application of Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty for the Senkaku islands, was unwavering,” Hayashi told reporters.

The treaty’s Article 5 says each party recognises an armed attack on territories under Japan’s administration would be dangerous to its peace and safety, and it would act to meet the common threat.

The two top diplomats also agreed to realise an early visit to the US by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for his first summit.

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