Speaking to a roundtable of Japanese journalists in Tokyo, Blinken mentioned Beijing was “raising tensions not diminishing them” in the area by its maritime actions and posturing more than Taiwan.
Blinken is going to Japan and South Korea along with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a bid to fortify Washington’s alliances in Asia, in a initially overseas trip by leading-level members of President Joe Biden’s administration.
China’s comprehensive territorial claims in the East and South China Seas have grow to be a priority concern in an increasingly testy Sino-U.S. connection and are an essential safety concern for Japan.
Blinken mentioned Beijing was “acting both more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad, including in the East China Sea, including with regard to the Senkakus, as well the South China sea and also with regard to Taiwan”.
The Senkakus, also referred to as Diaoyu in China, are islets in the East China Sea controlled by Japan but claimed by China.
“Japan has real interest in what happens with regard to Taiwan and Taiwan’s straits and we spent some time comparing notes on that,” mentioned Blinken describing his Tuesday talks with Japanese officials.
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The comments echoed statements issued by Blinken, Austin and their Japanese counterparts soon after “2+2” talks held in Tokyo on Tuesday and come ahead of Blinken’s initially in-particular person meetings with Chinese counterparts planned for later this week in Alaska.
“We look forward to the opportunity to lay out in very clear terms to our Chinese counterparts some of the concerns that we have about the actions they’re taking,” mentioned Blinken.
Following the morning roundtable with emerging Japanese reporters Blinken and Austin have been set to leave for Seoul to hold “2+2” talks with South Korean counterparts till Thursday.