Japan and Australia on Wednesday shared concern about China’s increasingly assertive actions in regional seas and expressed strong objections to coercive or destabilising behaviour.
Foreign and defence ministers of Japan and Australia expressed to bolster their security ties as China presses its claims to contested areas in the Asia-Pacific region, during an online meeting.
Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters after the meeting that the officials shared their concerns about China’s activity in the East and South China Seas as a challenge to the international community. Motegi was joined by Japanese defence minister Nobuo Kishi and their Australian counterparts, Marise Payne, and Peter Dutton.
“We reinforce our strong opposition to any destabilising or coercive unilateral actions that could alter the status quo and increase tension in the East China Sea. The behaviour undermines the rules-based international order,” Japan and Australia said in a joint statement released after the talks.
It also expressed serious concerns about the recent negative developments and serious incidents in the South China Sea, including continuing militarisation of disputed features, dangerous use of coast guard vessels, and maritime militia.
Japan and China are also in dispute over the development of undersea resources in the area.
