Japan and China have agreed to continue consultations for the early launch of a maritime communication mechanism between their defense officials to prevent unintended clashes at sea, the Foreign Ministry announced early Wednesday.
Senior diplomats and defense and coast guard officials from the two countries held two days of talks behind closed doors in the southern Chinese port city of Xiamen through Tuesday.
Despite lingering tensions over the Japan-controlled, China-claimed Senkaku Islands, the two countries have agreed that they need to accelerate the process of setting up the "Maritime and Aerial Communication Mechanism" between their defense officials.