September 14, 2016
Japan to increase activities in South China Sea
WASHINGTON, USA (AP) — Japan’s defence minister says its forces will increase engagement in the South China Sea through training cruises with the US Navy and multilateral exercises with regional navies.
Newly appointed Defence Minister Tomomi Inada says Japan will also help build the capacity of coastal nations. She was speaking ahead her first meeting with US Defence Secretary Ash Carter Thursday in Washington.
Japan, a close US ally, is not among the countries claiming territory in the disputed South China Sea but shares US concern about China’s assertive behaviour there.
Japan has a separate territorial dispute with China over unoccupied islands they both claim farther north in the East China Sea.
