Abe was in the remote Okinawan island of Ishigaki in the East China Sea, 2,000 kilometres (1,240 miles) southwest of Tokyo, where he told crews his resolve to stand up for Japan was undimmed.
"The security environment for our territorial waters has become increasingly serious, as Chinese government ships frequently sail to and roam around waters surrounding Senkaku islands," Abe said in an address to about 40 coastguards.
Senkaku is Japan's name for islands it controls, but which China claims as the Diaoyus.
"I very much appreciate your efforts to patrol our territorial waters. I will continue to take charge and defend our territory, territorial waters and territorial airspace," said Abe, who wore a blue Okinawan shirt and a coastguard cap for the occasion.
Abe's visit to Ishigaki, which lies less than 200 kilometres off the coast of Taiwan, was the first by a sitting premier in 48 years, national broadcaster NHK said.
It comes as the dispute with Beijing over the sovereignty the uninhabited, but resource-rich islands further north continues to fester, with little sign of any improvement in sight.
"The Senkakus are undoubtedly an integral part of Japan, historically and under international law," Abe said in Ishigaki later in the day.
"We won't budge one bit," he said in a stump speech.
The visit comes just a few days ahead of elections for half of the seats in the upper house of parliament, which observers expect to be a shoo-in for Abe's Liberal Democratic Party.
Voters have warmed to his economic policies, although many remain wary of his stance on issues including Japan's warring past and his intention to change the country's pacifist constitution or strengthen its armed forces.
Since taking office in December, Abe has visited a number of foreign countries, but has stayed away from China, with whom relations remain more-than-usually prickly.
Tensions have steadily risen between the two Asian giants, with China frequently sending official ships into waters around the Tokyo-administered islands.
Vessels from the two countries have for months traded warnings over intrusions into what both regard as their sovereign areas around the islands.
The long-standing dispute reignited last September when Tokyo nationalised three islands in the chain in what it said was a mere administrative change of ownership from a private landowner.
China insists the islands were part of its territory until Japan annexed them in 1895.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com
17/7/13
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Japan PM not backing down on claims to disputed islands...
ReplyDeleteTOKYO — Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe renewed his claims to disputed territories in the East China Sea yesterday as he visited nearby islands. He urged border security officials to boost their guard against China’s increased activity in the region.
Mr Abe told Coast Guard officials based on the Ishigaki Island, located west of Okinawa and whose city limits include the disputed territories, that Japan’s border security environment is challenging because of what he called “provocations” in the area.
The Japanese-controlled islands, called Senkaku, are also claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.
“Without a question, Senkaku is Japan’s unique territory, historically and in terms of international law. We have absolutely no intention to retreat, even by an inch,” Mr Abe said.
Tougher territorial defence is part of the campaign platform for Mr Abe’s ruling party for the Upper House election on Sunday. His governing coalition is likely to win a comfortable majority and strengthen its grip on power.
Mr Abe’s hawkish security policy and remarks, including those defending Japan’s wartime actions, have previously caused diplomatic rows with China and South Korea. Agencies
http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/japan-pm-not-backing-down-claims-disputed-islands
18/7/13
Biden calls for easing of tensions in Asian waters ...
ReplyDeleteSINGAPORE: US Vice President Joe Biden Friday called on Asian nations to reduce tensions in disputed waters across the region as Washington redoubles efforts to confront China's growing maritime presence there.
In a flurry of diplomacy on the first day of his two-day visit to Singapore, President Barack Obama's number two urged parties to reject bellicose threats in the South China Sea and East China Sea and "quickly" agree on rules to prevent conflict.
China claims nearly all of the strategically vital South China Sea, even waters close to the shores of its smaller neighbours, a regular flashpoint with smaller nations like Vietnam and the Philippines.
Beijing is also locked in an increasingly fractious maritime row with Japan in the East China Sea over a series of disputed islands -- a source of growing concern for Washington which has a defence alliance with Tokyo.
As well as meeting with Singaporean leaders, Biden took the opportunity to hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was visiting Singapore on the same day as part of tour of Southeast Asia.
"We each expressed our concern about the rising tensions in the South China Sea," Biden told reporters after a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.
"The United States urges all parties to reject coercion, intimidation and threats to the use of force," said Biden, who arrived late Thursday from an earlier visit to India.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/biden-calls-for-easing-of/757570.html
26/7/13
Tokyo 'must show sincerity' to improve strained relations ...
ReplyDeleteBeijing ruled out the possibility of an upcoming leaders' summit with Tokyo on Monday, urging the Japanese government to take concrete measures to improve strained ties rather than brandishing "empty slogans".
The message from a government official, who declines to be named, comes after Isao Iijima, a close adviser to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said on Sunday that Abe could hold a summit with President Xi Jinping in the "not-too-distant future".
Iijima said his assumption is based on his four-day visit to Beijing in mid-July, during which he met "several prominent figures"close to Xi, the Yomiuri Shimbun newspaper reported.
But the official said that Iijima did not meet any Chinese government officials.
"What Iijima told reporters on Sunday is not true and is fabricated, based on the needs of Japan's domestic politics,"he said.
His visit to China was mainly to discuss his tour of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and there was no consultation between the two sides on a leaders' meeting, according to the official.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a brief statement on Monday that Iijima has not conducted official activities during his visit to China, and Chinese officials were not in contact with him.
Iijima's remarks were widely quoted by the international media, with the world watching to see how Asia's two biggest economies are to mend ties that have been hit by the dispute over the Diaoyu Islands.
However, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said at a news conference on Monday, "No immediate schedule for a leadership summit has been set."
Iijima is not the only politician in Japan playing up the possibility of a leaders' summit.
During his just-concluded visit to Southeast Asia, Abe also repeatedly called for dialogue with Beijing without any conditions attached.
Beijing responded to Abe's move by saying its door is always open for talks, but the problem lies with Japan's unwillingness to face up to reality and start serious consultations with China.
Japan should "stop using empty slogans about so-called dialogue to gloss over disagreements", Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei told China Daily on Monday.....http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013-07/30/content_16849453.htm
30/7/13
Japan's vice foreign minister leaves China after "serious" talks...
DeleteBEIJING —
China’s foreign minister met Japan’s top diplomat on Tuesday and discussed problems clouding relations between the two countries as a state-run newspaper said Beijing has ruled out the possibility of a proposed bilateral summit.
Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Deputy Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin met Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Akitaka Saiki, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
“Both sides had a candid exchange of views on Sino-Japanese relations, China clearly expressed its position on problems facing relations between the two countries,” it said in a statement on its website.
“The two sides will continue to communicate through various channels and various levels,” the foreign ministry said.
http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/chinas-foreign-minister-meets-japans-vice-foreign-minister
30/7/13
We did not meet Abe's envoy, says China's foreign ministry...
DeleteIsao Iijima, an adviser to Japan's prime minister, Shinzo Abe, has claimed that a summit meeting between the leaders of Japan and China will take place in the near future. Hong Lei, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, has denied however that any plans are afoot for this to happen, reports Duowei News, an outlet operated by overseas Chinese.
After returning to Japan from a visit to China from July 13-16, Iijima said he was in contact with various Chinese officials to discuss the diplomatic crisis between the two sides over disputed islands in the East China Sea controlled by Japan. The adviser said one of the officials he met was a close associate of Xi Jinping, China's president.
Iijima said the officials with whom he met agreed that now is an appropriate time for the leaders of the two nations to discuss the matter face to face. At a press conference on July. 29, Hong Lei denied Iijima's claim and said the Japanese envoy did not meet any Chinese political figures during his stay in Beijing.
Akitaka Saiki, Japan's deputy foreign minister, also began a two-day visit to Beijing on July 29. Discussing Saiki's trip to China, Abe called on Beijing to return to dialogue, saying the two sides should end their dispute over the Diaoyutai (Senkaku or Diaoyu) islands through strategic dialogue without any preconditions.
Duowei said Abe had displayed an outward humility over the issue of the islands when Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of Japan's opposition New Komeito Party, visited Beijing early this month, but he was not seeking true reconciliation.
Duowei said that while Abe has spoken of building mutual trust, he has irritated not only China but also South Korea by downplaying or denying the scale of the atrocities committed by Japan in World War II. The prime minister is considered a "two-faced" figure who will find it hard for the public or government in China to accept his sincerity while he panders to popular nationalism at home, Duowei said.
http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130730000120&cid=1101&MainCatID=11
30/7/13