Defense Minister Kishi met with China's Defense Minister Wei Fenghe for the first time in a video conference format, expressing strong concern that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are a territory peculiar to Japan and that China is strengthening its marine expansion. After that, I urged him to take a positive response.
A video conference-style meeting between Defense Minister Kishi and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe took place on the evening of the 14th for about an hour and a half.
Among them, Minister Kishi commented on the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, saying, "It is a territory of Japan that has no doubt in history and international law, and in fact Japan has effective control. The issue of sovereignty to be resolved is It doesn't exist in the first place. "
On top of that, this month as well, he expressed strong concern that China is strengthening its marine expansion in the East China Sea, bearing in mind that a ship of the China Coast Guard invaded Japan's territorial waters off the coast of the Senkaku Islands. I urged you to take action.
On the other hand, the Chinese side made its own claim.
Meanwhile, at the meeting, they will be able to open an early "hotline" where senior defense officials can communicate directly with each other by telephone, etc., in order to prevent accidental collisions between the Self-Defense Forces and the Chinese military at sea or in the air. I confirmed that the adjustment will be accelerated.
After the meeting, Minister Kishi told reporters, "We will ask the Chinese side not to take actions to escalate the situation, improve transparency such as military power, and dispel concerns of the international community. I urged you. "