Defense Minister Taro Kono and U.S. counterpart Mark Esper agreed in Guam on Saturday that they will keep China's maritime assertiveness in the South and East China seas in check.
"As for the South and East China seas, we confirmed that Japan and the United States will strongly oppose countries unilaterally changing the status quo by force," Kono said in an online news conference after meeting with Esper at Andersen Air Force Base.
Beijing is involved in territorial disputes with Tokyo and a number of other Asian neighbors in the waters.