US-Japan Defense Minister confirms telephone talk "Application of US-Japan Security Treaty to Senkaku Islands"

Defense Minister Kishi had a telephone conversation with the newly appointed Secretary of Defense Austin under the Biden administration in the United States.

We have confirmed that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are subject to Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty, which stipulates defense obligations by the United States, with China in mind as it strengthens its marine expansion.

At a telephone conversation held on the morning of the 24th of Japan time, Minister of Defense Kishi congratulated Secretary of Defense Austin, unilaterally against the background of power, keeping in mind that China is strengthening its marine expansion in the East China Sea and South China Sea. He expressed his opposition to the attempt to change the status quo.

On that basis, they confirmed that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are subject to Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty, which stipulates defense obligations by the United States.

They also agreed to work together to achieve complete, verifiable and irreversible destruction of all North Korean weapons of mass destruction and all ballistic missiles.

We also confirmed that we would aim for a prompt agreement in the US-Japan negotiations on the cost of stationing US forces in Japan, and that we would hold face-to-face talks as soon as possible based on the infection status of the new coronavirus.

"I felt that Secretary of Defense Austin was very interested in the security environment in Asia and emphasized the Japan-US alliance. I would like to build a relationship of trust and further strengthen deterrence," said Minister Kishi. ..