US calls for coordination from Japan, RoK in East Sea issue
US Secretary of Defence James Mattis has reiterated his country’s stance on the East Sea issue and, at the same time, called on Japan and the Republic of Korea (RoK) to join hands with the US to prevent any single country from dominating the sea.
US Secretary of Defence James Mattis (Photo: AFP/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – USSecretary of Defence James Mattis has reiterated his country’s stance on theEast Sea issue and, at the same time, called on Japan and the Republic of Korea(RoK) to join hands with the US to prevent any single country from dominatingthe sea.
Speaking after meeting withJapanese and RoK officials in Singapore on October 19, Secretary Mattis heldthat the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and partners shouldclosely cooperate with each other. He affirmed that the cooperation is to preventany single country from rewriting international provisions on this sea line,and expressed his hope that all the countries, small or big, would respectthose provisions.
Besides, before stating thatthe US cannot accept China’s militarization of the East Sea or any use of forcein the region, Secretary Mattis stressed that the US will maintain itsactivities in the air, the sea and operations anywhere allowed by theinternational law and demanded by the national interests.
He was in Singapore for thefifth ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting Plus (ADMM ).-VNA
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US Secretary of Defence James Mattis (Photo: AFP/VNA) 
