WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (PNA/Kyodo) — The nominee for assistant U.S. defense secretary for Asian and Pacific security affairs urged Japan and China on Tuesday to enhance dialogue to avoid a possible incident as a result of their territorial disputes.
David Shear said in a written testimony to Congress for confirmation of the post that the level of communication should be increased between Japan and China “in order to reduce the possibility of mistakes or miscalculation in contested areas.”
Shear, a longtime diplomat who currently serves as ambassador to Vietnam, did not elaborate but was apparently referring to disputes over China’s claim to the Japan-controlled Senkaku islets in the East China Sea by sending ships into Japanese waters nearby. (PNA/Kyodo)