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On December 3, DPJ President Banri Kaieda attended a meeting with U.S. Vice President Joseph R. Biden, held at the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Tokyo. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister Aso, the LDP’s Hirofumi Nakasone (Chair of the Japan-US Parliamentarians’ League), and Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba, and New Komeito Chief Representative Natsuo Yamaguchi, as well as U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy.
On the afternoon of the same day, Kaieda spoke to reporters inside the Diet regarding the meeting. He said that the Japanese side had referred to the issue of China’s establishment of an ADIZ over the China Sea which includes the area surrounding the Senkaku Islands, and had commented to the effect that, “We absolutely cannot condone the establishment of an ADIZ in such a single-handed fashion, which ignores international norms and international rules. We will continue to assert that it should be rescinded. We would like to further strengthen Japan-U.S. cooperation and have you communicate our opinion [to China].” In response, Biden had stated that the United States would continue to maintain its position as a Pacific nation state, and that he understood the opinions expressed by the Japanese side and would communicate them directly when he visited China.
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