(VOVWORLD) - Japan and Australia have agreed that a free and open maritime order based on the rule of law is important, reported Japan’s Jiji Press.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and his Australian counterpart, Linda Reynolds, affirmed the position when they exchanged opinions on the recent regional situation during their first phone talks on Monday.
They also strongly opposed any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by coercion and activities that escalate tension in the region, referring to China’s increasing assertiveness in the East China Sea and the South China Sea (called the East Sea in Vietnam).
They also agreed to send clear messages on their policy stances and confirmed a plan to make adjustments for Reynolds’ visit to Japan.