Kishida: "Continued Japanese Sovereignty Violations by China in the East China Sea"

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida [Photo by AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Byung-hee] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida criticized China on the 13th at the 17th East Asia Summit (EAS) held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, stating that China continues to infringe upon Japan's sovereignty in the East China Sea and is escalating tensions in the East Asian region, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP).

According to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "Activities by China infringing upon Japan's sovereignty in the East China Sea are continuously intensifying, and in the South China Sea, militarization and coercive actions that escalate regional tensions are still ongoing." He pointed out that ballistic missiles China launched near Taiwan in August this year fell into Japan's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), emphasizing that "the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait is also a crucial issue directly linked to regional security."

Prime Minister Kishida stressed that the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait are important for security in the East Asian region and expressed deep concern over the human rights of the Uyghur people.

SCMP reported that prior to Kishida’s remarks, U.S. President Joe Biden had spoken, emphasizing the importance of ensuring peace in the Taiwan Strait and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea.

On the same day, Prime Minister Kishida announced that in relation to the U.S.-Japan summit, he and President Biden agreed to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance.

He also conveyed his determination to significantly increase Japan’s defense capabilities and defense budget to support this, adding that he received strong support from President Biden.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a press release regarding the U.S.-Japan summit, "The two leaders agreed to continue close coordination between the U.S. and Japan in addressing various challenges related to China."

The Ministry also conveyed, "The two leaders shared the view that the unprecedented frequency and nature of ballistic missile launches by North Korea are absolutely unacceptable, and confirmed that the U.S., Japan, and South Korea will closely cooperate for North Korea’s complete denuclearization in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions."