Obama says Senkaku Islands fall under US-Japan treaty, China objects

Zee Media Bureau/Supriya Jha

Tokyo: In what is not expected to go down well with China, US President Barack Obama on Thursday repeated that the disputed Senkaku Islands fell under the Japanese administration and the US was committed to defend it like all Japanese territories. Obama is in Japan – the first leg of his 4-nation Asia trip, that will cover South Korea, Malaysia and Philippines. Addressing a joint conference with PM Shinzo Abe, Obama seemed to put his weight behind Japan regarding its island dispute with China, when he repeated what he had told a Japanese newspaper ahead of his arrival in Tokyo. "Article five (of the US-Japan security treaty) covers all territories under Japan`s administration including (the) Senkaku islands," Obama said in the joint press conference. Obama made clear that it was the consistent stance of the US, saying, "We do not believe that they should be subject to change unilaterally, and what is a consistent part of the alliance is that the treaty covers all territories administered by Japan.” By making the statement in favour of Japan, Obama reassured that the US will defend Japan in case of any Chinese incursion. China and Japan are locked in a bitter dispute over East China sea islands, called as the Senkaku Islands in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. In a similar remark ahead of his trip, Obamahad had told a Japanese newspaper that Senkaku islands fall within the scope of Article 5 of the US-Japan Treaty that goes on to mean that the US is obliged to defend Japan in case the disputed islands are attacked by China.  Reacting to Obama`s statement, China raised objection to the US-Japan defense treaty that dates back to World war II. "The so-called US-Japan alliance is a bilateral arrangement from the Cold War and ought not to harm China`s territorial sovereignty and reasonable rights," reports quoted Chinese spokesman Qin Gang saying in Beijing yesterday. Obama, who started his four nation tour with Japan, arrived in Tokyo on Wednesday where he had an informal evening dinner with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe at a well known sushi restaurant. Today, Obama is set for a state dinner with PM Shinzo Abe tonight after he calls it a day in Japan that will see him meet Royals and visit Meiji shrine among other things. Other than talking about Japan`s island dispute, Obama in the joint press conference also urged China to press North Korea to control its nuke overtures. PM Abe reciprocated Obama`s assurances by saying that US-Japan alliance was an unwaveringone.  Starting his 8-day tour with Japan, Obama`s next stops will be in three other countries - South Korea, Malaysia, and the Philippines.  Obama`s Asia tour will aim to reassure the nations of continued US commitment to the region, with an eye both to China`s rising assertiveness and the fast-growing markets that are the center of gravity for global growth.