U.S. vows to defend Japan if conflict erupts in East China Sea [View all]

[Jesus Malverde]

Source: The Japan Times

Secretary of State John Kerry vowed Friday that the United States would defend Japan against attack, even in conflicts involving islands claimed by China and Taiwan, as tensions continue to boil between the Asian powers.

Kerry, who said he would visit China next week, met in Washington with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed the 1960 treaty that commits the United States to protect its ally.

“That includes with respect to the South China Sea,” he said, before correcting himself to say the East China Sea, where China and Japan have conflicting claims.

snip

“The United States neither recognizes nor accepts China’s declared East China Sea ADIZ and the United States has no intention of changing how we conduct operations in the region,” Kerry said.

Read more: http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/02/08/national/u-s-vows-to-defend-japan-if-conflict-erupts-in-east-china-sea/#.UvacVHlGXOE