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Like the South China Sea, the East China Sea has been an area of much contention. China's long-standing feud with Japan has continued with friction over the Diaoyu Islands, which both countries lay claim to, and arguments over who owns a swathe of sea territory. China is also at loggerheads with South Korea over Socotra Rock, a submerged reef that hosts a Korean scientific research station, and which Beijing says intrudes on its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
Nearly doubling of Tokyo defence budget comes soon after talks with China raised regional hopes of a decrease in tensions.
Beijing’s latest confrontations with Tokyo and Manila over contested islands come as they strengthen maritime coalition with Washington.
While Philippines was absent from forum, members passed updated Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea, a non-binding multilateral agreement.
The relationship between the two Asian giants is already ‘complex and delicate’, despite their intertwined economies.
‘These meetings were not about any one other nation. This was about deepening and revitalising existing alliances and partnerships and strengthening some new ones.’
Meeting in Hawaii on Wednesday and Thursday was first face-to-face consultation since Xi Jinping and Joe Biden agreed to resume military dialogue in November.
Head of a trilateral organisation representing the three countries tells Boao Forum that no nation can face current geopolitical challenges on their own.
The emerging Strategic Support Force is leveraging the civilian sector to expand China’s space, cyber, electromagnetic and psychological warfare capabilities.
Eastern naval and coastguard units practise responses to an attack on a flotilla amid tensions in the East China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
Trade and investment growth between the two countries has slowed amid a series of economic and security concerns.
Design guidelines for bomb shelters are expected to be completed next month, while proposals for evacuation of residents on remote islands are also being drawn up.
In a sign Beijing is stepping up pressure on Taipei, fleet carried out vessel checks, fishing boat protection and issued warnings near Kinmen where mainland fishermen died, says China Coast Guard.
Seoul is concerned it may lose out if Tokyo claims a large portion of Block 7, an underexplored zone in the East China Sea that could hold vast oil reserves.
Japan deployed airborne early warning aircraft and at least one marine destroyer in response to Chinese vessels sailing near disputed islands in the East China Sea.
Eastern Theatre Command, which is responsible for the East China Sea and Taiwan, received provincial-level party secretaries around time of Taiwan election.
A top Japanese business delegation has failed to get Beijing to address Tokyo’s concerns such as China’s anti-espionage law and seafood ban.
About 40 women are part of Japan’s Amphibious Rapid Deployment Brigade, meant to lead assaults from the sea in a possible future war.
Senate resolution to ratify UN Convention on the Law of the Sea appears doubtful amid American culture wars despite enjoying some bipartisan support.
Experts say Japan could be forced to deal with a militarily emboldened China and North Korea, with reduced US engagement in the region, if Donald Trump returns to the White House.
Declassified documents showed Tokyo urged Chinese officials to refrain from publicly speaking about the disputed islands to avoid causing rift among the Japanese public.
China’s largest fishery research vessel has embarked on a survey mission, a high-profile move intended to assess marine resources and establish the country’s role as a major player in the booming industry.
Chinese president makes the remarks in visit to command office for East China Sea, saying they must crack down on criminal activities and safeguard the maritime economy.
Tokyo’s decision to ground the aircraft follows a crash involving a US Osprey on Wednesday, that killed at least one of the eight crew members.