One week has passed since U.S. Vice President Joe Biden completed his visit to Japan, China and South Korea. Despite his original intention to use the trip to reaffirm the Obama administration’s commitment to rebalancing U.S. policy regarding the Asia-Pacific region, working out a U.S. response to China’s sudden declaration of a new air defense identification zone became the focus of his visit.
Japan appeared somewhat frustrated with the initial reaction by the United States to China’s ADIZ declaration. Japanese leaders had hoped Tokyo and Washington would issue a joint statement protesting China’s move. They had also hoped Biden would not just register a strong U.S. protest, but also demand that China withdraw its ADIZ declaration during his visit to Beijing.
Japan Must Keep Cool Head Over China’s ADIZ
By Yuki Tatsumi
In Japan
One week has passed since U.S. Vice President Joe Biden completed his visit to Japan, China and South Korea. Despite his original intention to use the trip to reaffirm the Obama administration’s commitment to rebalancing U.S. policy regarding the Asia-Pacific region, working out a U.S. response to China’s sudden declaration of a new air defense identification zone became the focus of his visit.
Japan appeared somewhat frustrated with the initial reaction by the United States to China’s ADIZ declaration. Japanese leaders had hoped Tokyo and Washington would issue a joint statement protesting China’s move. They had also hoped Biden would not just register a strong U.S. protest, but also demand that China withdraw its ADIZ declaration during his visit to Beijing.
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This op-ed first appeared in The Japan News on December 16, 2013
Photo by juiceeric18 via flickr