Japan Renews South China Sea Alert, Pushes Aussies on Submarines
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A Chinese coast guard vessel near the area of China's oil drilling rig in disputed waters in the South China Sea.
Photographer: Hoang Dinh Nam/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Japan’s foreign and defense ministers reiterated concerns about China’s strengthening position in the South China Sea in meetings with their Australian counterparts and pressed the case for Japanese companies to build new generation submarines Down Under.
“China is increasing its activities,” Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Sydney at the conclusion of the so-called two-plus-two meeting with Australia on Sunday. “To accommodate or condone the current situation, we cannot accept -- we need to ensure the rule of law and freedom of navigation,” he said via a translator.