Japan will adopt a tough policy in dealing with China.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the above statement and pledged that Japan would increase maritime assistance to Vietnam.
In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Abe emphasized that Beijing's actions in the South China Sea have escalated tensions in the region, especially China's blatant and illegal placement of the Haiyang-981 oil rig deep within Vietnam's exclusive economic zone.
Prime Minister Abe affirmed that Japan will not tolerate any actions that deliberately alter the current status quo in the region, especially when such actions are carried out through intimidation and the use of force.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reviews the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (Photo: Reuters) |
The Japanese Prime Minister's statement was made on May 26, just one day after Japan accused Chinese fighter jets of approaching Japanese aircraft over the disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Following the incident, both countries leveled accusations against each other, with Japan claiming that China had deliberately intimidated Japan, and China brazenly declaring that Japan had engaged in dangerous actions that violated international law.
The Japanese Prime Minister also emphasized that Tokyo has no choice but to become even tougher and stronger in order to counter potential threats in the region.
Prime Minister Abe is expected to arrive in Singapore on May 30th and deliver a key speech at the annual Shangri-La Defence Dialogue.
Earlier, in mid-May 2014, the Japanese Prime Minister pushed forward a proposal to allow the government to reinterpret Japan's pacifist constitution.
Accordingly, Japan wants to loosen the military restrictions imposed on it by the Allies since World War II in order to enable Japan to pursue policies similar to those of the United States in the Asian region.
The US has also supported Abe's proposal, especially following recent aggressive actions by China in the region and after reports of Beijing increasing its defense spending.
According to VOV
