Japan and ASEAN leaders pledged to work together to ensure “freedom of overflight” in the region, in a move seen as a mild rebuke to China, at ASEAN summit in Tokyo
Japan is hosting the summit for the SE Asian nations which focuses on China’s position in the regional tensions.
In an effort to gather support against the Chinese expansion, Japan offered the ASEAN countries almost $20bn (£12bn) in aid and loans at the summit.
The 3 day summit follows the Chinese declaration of a new air defence zone which overlaps the areas that are claimed by Japan and South Korea.
Japan seeked support against China from the ASEAN states, some of which also have territorial disputes with China.
Indonesia, member of the ASEAN has stressed the need of good relations between China and Japan as they are “critical to the future” of the region.
“Indonesia is deeply concerned at the prospect of the disputes erupting into open conflicts, which will have adverse impacts on all countries in the region,” President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono said in a speech in Tokyo.
