Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin, in a conversation with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, confirmed the US readiness to defend the disputed Senkaku Islands, which China also claims. This was reported by the American department, RIA Novosti reports.
In particular, the US Secretary of Defense confirmed that the fifth article of the US-Japan Security Treaty also applies to Senkaku Island. It implies that countries will jointly defend against an armed threat from one of the countries. “The United States is against any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the East China Sea,” the statement said.
In addition, the ministers discussed the redeployment of American forces that are in Japan, as well as the issue of North Korea.
A territorial dispute over the Senkaku Islands, near which oil deposits were discovered, has been waged between Tokyo and Beijing since the late 1960s. They have been under the administrative control of Japan since 1972.
