US lawmakers condemn China’s ’coercive actions’ against Japan

NHK World - A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has submitted a resolution to the House of Representatives condemning what they call the "coercive actions" of China against Japan.

The resolution was submitted on Friday by members of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs amid worsening relations between Japan and China.

It condemns China for taking "coercive actions" against Japan in response to a comment Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae made in the Diet over a possible Taiwan emergency.

The resolution notes that Chinese fighter aircraft twice "intermittently locked fire-control radar on Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jets over international airspace southeast of Okinawa Prefecture."

It also cites the travel advisory Beijing issued urging Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan.

The resolution calls on the Chinese government to "cease its coercive actions against Japan" and "engage in constructive dialogue on matters of regional concern."

It also urges US President Donald Trump "to work with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region to counter coercive economic and diplomatic practices."

Senators from both sides of the aisle had previously submitted a resolution to the Senate similarly condemning China's actions.

Last Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed the Trump administration's intention to continue Washington's firm alliance with Japan, while seeking ways to build cooperative relations with China.