"Refrain from Unilateral Attempts to Change the Status Quo"

Serious Concerns Raised Regarding the East and South China Seas

Including the Senkaku (Diaoyu Dao) Sovereignty Dispute

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop (right) attending the 19th Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) poses for a commemorative photo on the 11th at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (center) and Japanese Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo before the South Korea-U.S.-Japan defense ministers' meeting. Photo by Kishi, the Japanese Defense Minister, removing his mask belatedly. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] On the 12th, Nobuo Kishi, Japan's Defense Minister, expressed strong concerns to Wei Fenghe, China's Minister of National Defense, regarding the continued attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force around the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyutai Islands) and other areas in the East and South China Seas, urging restraint.

According to Kyodo News, Defense Minister Kishi, attending the Asia Security Conference (Shangri-La Dialogue) in Singapore, held a bilateral meeting with Wei Fenghe for about an hour and told reporters afterward about these concerns. The Senkaku Islands are a disputed area in the East China Sea between the two countries. Although Japan exercises effective control, Chinese government vessels frequently approach, prompting repeated protests from Japan.

Defense Minister Kishi also conveyed serious concerns regarding recent military exercises conducted by China and Russia near Japan, describing them as "protest actions against Japan."

On the 24th of last month, Chinese and Russian bombers conducted joint long-range flights over the Sea of Japan, East China Sea, and Pacific airspace near Japan while the Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue among the United States, Japan, Australia, and India) summit was underway in Tokyo. Since early last month, China's Liaoning aircraft carrier strike group has remained for over 20 days?the longest period?in the western Pacific waters east of Taiwan and south of Japan, conducting more than 300 sorties involving fighter jets and helicopters.

Regarding Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Defense Minister Kishi stated, "It is absolutely unacceptable as it shakes the foundation of the international order, including in Asia," and urged, "China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, to play a responsible role."

In his speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue the previous day, Kishi also focused on countering China. He pointed out that China "has not abandoned the possibility of using force against Taiwan and appears to be attempting to strengthen its military power without transparency."

Furthermore, targeting China's enhanced maritime expansion and North Korea's continued missile development, he mentioned, "There is an internationally shared concern that potential risks similar to the Ukraine invasion exist in the Indo-Pacific region."

The defense ministers of China and Japan agreed to promote dialogue and exchanges between their defense authorities going forward. This defense ministerial meeting was held for the first time in two and a half years since December 2019 in Beijing.

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