Top Japanese and U.S. government officials reaffirmed their commitment Wednesday to work closely to deal with China-related issues such as Beijing's establishment of an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea that encompasses disputed, Japan-controlled islets.
Nobuo Kishi, senior vice foreign minister, told reporters he and William Burns, deputy U.S. secretary of state, discussed "various issues" related to China, including the ADIZ, during their meeting in Washington.
They agreed that strengthening the bilateral alliance will help further stabilize the Asia-Pacific region, according to Kishi, who is Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's younger brother.
China set up an ADIZ last year that includes airspace over the Japan-controlled Senkaku islets, which Beijing claims. The United States has said its security treaty with Japan covers the Senkakus.