Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that Japan and China will soon launch a maritime and airspace crisis management mechanism to prevent inadvertent clashes in the East China Sea.
"We have agreed to work toward making the mechanism operational at an early date," Nakatani said at a news conference a day after bilateral talks on the matter.
"At a time when we see an increased risk of unforeseen events in waters and airspace, including in the East China Sea, I'd like to welcome it as a major step," he said.