Japan, Vietnam to tighten maritime relations amid China threat

From Kyodo News International

Japan and Vietnam agreed Monday to promote maritime security cooperation between the two countries, apparently in response to increasingly assertive naval activities by China.

Japanese military ships

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit in Bali, Indonesia. They also shared the goal of encouraging more Japanese companies to invest in Vietnam for the country’s economic development.

Japan “has been concerned about (unilateral attempts) to change the status quo by force,” Abe told San, according to one of the officials, apparently referring to China’s naval activities that have led to its territorial rows with other Asian countries, including Japan and Vietnam, in the East and South China Sea.

San agreed with Abe, saying that such disputes must be resolved in accordance with international law, the official added.

Read the full story from Kyodo News International.