Saturday, February 4, 2017

U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis Ends His Trip To Asia In Japan. Says Alliance Covers Disputed Islands With China



Nikkei Asian Review: Mattis included Senkaku isles in US-Japan defense treaty: Japan official

US defense chief, Abe agree to further strengthen alliance.

TOKYO -- U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to its defense treaty with Japan in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe here on Friday. A Japanese official who attended the meeting said Mattis confirmed that the treaty extended to the Senkaku Islands -- which China claims and calls the Diaoyu -- in Okinawa Prefecture.

"I want there to be no misunderstanding during the transition in Washington that we stand firmly, 100%, shoulder to shoulder with you and the Japanese people," Mattis said at the start of the meeting.

Citing provocative actions by North Korea and "other challenges," the defense secretary said, "I want to make certain that Article 5 of our mutual defense treaty is understood to be as real to us today as it was a year ago, five years ago -- and as it will be a year, and 10 years, from now."

Read more ....

U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis' Remarks That The U.S.-Japan Alliance Covers Disputed Islands With China

Trump Defense Chief Says Japan Alliance Covers Disputed Isles -- Bloomberg
US would side with Japan in clash over Diaoyus, says Pentagon chief -- South China Morning Post
Mattis: US will defend contested Senkaku Islands on Japan's behalf -- Stars and Stripes
Pentagon Chief Says US Will Maintain Its Policy on Japan-China Territorial Row -- Sputnik
Abe, Mattis reaffirm U.S. commitment on Senkakus -- Japan News/The Yomiuri Shimbun

U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis' Remarks On The U.S.-Japan Alliance

Jim Mattis Says U.S. Is ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’ With Japan -- NYT
US 'committed to Japan's defense': US defense secretary -- DW
Mattis reaffirms U.S. alliance with Japan 'for years to come' -- Reuters
Trump Defense Chief Assures Japan, S. Korea of US Commitment to Asia -- VOA

U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis' Remarks That The South China Sea Dispute Should Be Solved Through Diplomacy

Pentagon chief: No need for military moves in East, South China seas -- Nikkei Asian Review
Mattis: ‘Exhaust All ... Diplomatic Efforts’ in South China Sea -- VOA
Trump Defense Chief Seeks Diplomatic End in South China Sea -- Bloomberg

Commentaries And Analysis On U.S. Defense Secretary Mattis' Trip To Asia

Abe, Mattis show alliance unshakable / Meeting in Tokyo sends strong message to China -- Japan News
Mattis clarifies U.S. defense pledge, stays mum on host-nation support -- Japan Times
US defence secretary Mattis pushes diplomatic solutions, but Beijing remains wary of Trump administration -- Laura Zhou, South China Morning Post
Mattis in Asia: Fears soothed but uncertainty remains -- Katie Hunt, CNN
Why Mattis Headed East: Time For China Strategy -- Andrew Krepinevich, Breaking Defense

4 comments:

Jay Farquharson said...

China, China, or Taiwan, China?

While Mattis is backing Japan, it's unclear which China he's backing them against, unless it's both.

Jay Farquharson said...

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R42761.pdf

War News Updates Editor said...

Thank you for the link Jay. The official U.S. position is to not get involved. Unofficially .... whether through back-doors or in private .... the message has always been different. I know when I talk with my Chinese friends, they know that any conflict with Japan will result in the U.S. becoming involved right away.

Jay Farquharson said...

The question is, when oil or gas is found, which China the US will have to back Japan against.

China China, which has the Navy,

Or China Taiwan, which can almost walk there at low tide?