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| ilustration warships (Olga MALTSEVA / AFP) |
The United States has said it is ready to defend Japan following China's maneuvers in the Senkaku Islands' waters in the disputed East China Sea.
Two Chinese coastguard ships stormed Senkaku Island's waters at the weekend and approached a Japanese fishing vessel.
A spokesman for the US State Department, Ned Price, said that the island falls within the scope of Article 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty.
Based on the agreement, the two countries defend each other if an opponent attacks them.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken also called Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi to raise his concerns.
Agence France-Presse quoted Ned as saying on Wednesday (10/2), "expressing concern about China's increasing emphasis on the Senkaku Islands after implementing the new Chinese Coast Guard law."
Tokyo said it is concerned about China's increasing aggression after it enacted a new law allowing Coast Guard vessels to fire on foreign ships that could threaten its territorial waters.
Senkaku is a small rocky island dominated by Japan. China refers to the island as Diaoyu and claims that it is its sovereign territory.
This American support was expressed after President Biden promised to preserve ties with the Allies.
Since taking office on January 20, the Biden administration has reaffirmed its commitment to the United States' allies and partners in Asia. Biden and his backers pledged to work together against Beijing.
Indeed, in his speech last Thursday, Biden described China as its most dangerous competitor. He also said that the United States was in stiff competition with China.
