Japan Welcomes US Statement Calling China's South China Sea Sovereignty Claims Illegal

[Asia Economy Reporter Sung Ki-ho] As tensions between the United States and China over sovereignty in the South China Sea escalate, Japanese government officials have consecutively expressed their support for the United States.

Yoshihide Suga, Chief Cabinet Secretary and spokesperson for the Japanese government, said at a regular press conference on the afternoon of the 14th that regarding the statement by U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo declaring China's claims to territorial waters and marine resources in the South China Sea illegal, "We recognize this as demonstrating the United States' firm commitment to regional peace and stability amid an increasingly severe security environment in the region," and added, "We want to support this American commitment."

Toshimitsu Motegi, Japanese Foreign Minister, also said at a press conference that day, "Amid an increasingly severe security environment in the region, this shows the United States' firm commitment to regional peace and stability," and expressed that he "welcomes and supports" Secretary Pompeo's statement.

Meanwhile, on the 13th (U.S. local time), U.S. Secretary of State Pompeo issued a statement declaring that China's unilateral claims to territorial waters and marine resources in the South China Sea are illegal, and the Chinese government immediately responded by accusing the United States of ignoring the objective facts of the South China Sea issue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.