Japan becoming more assertive in face of China's aggressiveness - Golez

Japan to ‘Respond Firmly’ If Provoked By China in Maritime Dispute

Christl Leong   |

Jul 12, 2014 07:53 AM EDT

(Photo : REUTERS/Yuri Gripas) U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel (L) and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera in Washington, July 11, 2014.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera announced on Friday that it would "respond firmly" should China "disrupt the order" in contested waters in the East China Sea.

During a dialogue at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington on Friday, Onodera spoke of the tension between Tokyo and Beijing over the disputed Senkaku Islands, also known as Diaoyu Islands in Chinese.

He stressed that Tokyo seeks to resolve the issue peacefully, citing attempts to establish improved maritime communication with Beijing - which the latter has put on hold.

He said that while Japan does not want to have a confrontation with China which could lead to "unintended situations," it would not back down should the latter take action to disturb the status quo in the contested waters by force.

"Our door is always open to dialogue. But if against the background of force there is unilateral behavior that disrupts the order, we must respond firmly," Onodera said.

Earlier in the day, Onodera met with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to discuss the revised defense guidelines that would regulate military interaction between the two nations.

According to Hagel, implementation of the new guidelines is expected by the end of the year.

"This bold, historic, landmark decision will enable Japan to significantly increase its contribution to regional and global security and expand its role on the world stage," Hagel said.

However, The Wall Street Journal noted that a delay in the guidelines' implementation is likely.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's move to reinterpret the country's constitution that would lift military restrictions for collective self-defense has been met with strong opposition from its citizens, as well as neighboring countries China and South Korea.

Onodera defended the shift, claiming that it would enable the country to defend its territory.

He also said that it would boost ties with the U.S., citing a hypothetical situation where Tokyo would be able to assist an American warship sent to defend Japan if it was attacked.

That's "what an ally should naturally do," he added.

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