Japan, China to Resume Maritime Crisis Management Talks
Japan and China to hold talks soon on the launch of a maritime crisis management mechanism after their leaders agreed to work together to avert unforeseen events in and around the Senkaku Islands
Japan and China have agreed to resume talks as early as next week to launch a maritime crisis management mechanism in 2015, say Japanese government sources.
The proposed “maritime liaison mechanism” is aimed at easing tensions stemming from the sovereignty dispute over the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. Arrangements are being made for working-level talks.
In 2012, Japanese and Chinese defense authorities reached a basic agreement to set up a hotline and use a common radio frequency for their ships and planes when operating near the Senkakus.
Accoring to sources, Tokyo sounded out Beijing on resuming the talks by the end of January on setting up a way for their defense authorities to contact each other in an emergency. Beijing responded, saying the talks could be held in the middle of the month.
Japan made the proposal after the first-ever talks between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing in November, where they confirmed senior officials from both countries would start working toward setting up a crisis management mechanism to avert such incidents, they said.