Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agreed Saturday to bolster cooperation on ensuring "the freedom of overflight and civil aviation safety," alluding to the risks posed by China's new air defense identification zone over the East China Sea.
In a joint statement issued to conclude the Japan-ASEAN special summit in Tokyo, the leaders confirmed they would join hands to keep maritime navigation safe as Beijing increasingly flexes its muscles in the East and South China seas.
The statement, however, did not specifically mention China or its contentious new ADIZ.