Japan will remain steadfast and cooperate with other countries in addressing China's recent establishment of an air defense identification zone covering the Senkaku Islands, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday.
"We will respond firmly but in a calm manner" against China's unilateral setting of the new flight rules, Abe was quoted by a ruling party lawmaker as telling a meeting in the prime minister's office. "I will cooperate with allied countries, neighboring countries and international organizations."
The lawmaker, Takeshi Iwaya of the Liberal Democratic Party, spoke to reporters after the meeting, during which he handed Abe a written LDP resolution criticizing China and urging Beijing to immediately withdraw the new measure.