U.S. vows to defend Japan if conflict erupts in East China Sea

japan times ^

[traumer]

Washington – Secretary of State John Kerry vowed Friday that the United States would defend Japan against attack, even in conflicts involving islands claimed by China and Taiwan, as tensions continue to boil between the Asian powers.

Kerry, who said he would visit China next week, met in Washington with Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and reaffirmed the 1960 treaty that commits the United States to protect its ally.

“That includes with respect to the South China Sea,” he said, before correcting himself to say the East China Sea, where China and Japan have conflicting claims.

Fears of conflict rose in November when China imposed an air defense identification zone over much of the East China Sea. Beijing says it now requires notification from planes crossing the Senkaku Islands, long administered by Tokyo.

“The United States neither recognizes nor accepts China’s declared East China Sea ADIZ and the United States has no intention of changing how we conduct operations in the region,” Kerry said.

[SevenofNine]

I just found it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQUMJNXrW6U

[AmericanInTokyo]

They know we are a paper tiger. All throughout the region. Period. (It began with Obama’s kowtow to the Japanese Emperor, highly undiplomatic and un American) about four years ago, and from that point on the empty suit image was established. It will not ever be shaken. The US is just plain SCREWED in East Asia for the next three years. And a LOT can happen.