Tokyo:
New US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Sunday, throughout his very first telephone contact with his Japanese counterpart, reaffirmed America’s commitment to defending the disputed East China Sea islets identified as the Senkaku in Japan, Jiji news agency reported.
Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi confirmed that Article 5 of the US-Japan safety treaty, which stipulates US defence obligations to Japan, covers the Senkaku Islands, Jiji stated. The islets are identified as the Diaoyu in China.
The defence ministers also reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral act that would undermine Japan’s ideal to administer the islands, Jiji stated.
Japan has develop into increasingly concerned about Chinese activity in the East China Sea, such as incursions into waters about the disputed islands.
The talks marked the very first ministerial talks amongst Tokyo and Washington because US President Joe Biden took workplace on Wednesday. Retired Army common Austin produced history on Friday by becoming America’s very first Black defence secretary.
Japan’s defence ministry was not promptly offered for comment.
US Indo-Pacific Command stated on Sunday a US Navy strike group entered the South China Sea on Saturday, the identical day Taiwan reported a huge incursion of Chinese bombers and fighter jets into its air defence identification zone close to the Pratas Islands.
()