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Japan's defence minister talks tough against China on Senkaku islands, Taiwan

Kishi said the Senkaku islands are unquestionably Japanese territory

kishi reuters Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi | Reuters

Sovereignty over the Senkaku islands has been a major source of tension between China and Japan, in addition to their differences over North Korea, Taiwan and the South China Sea.

China refers to the islands as the Diaoyu islands.

Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi told CNN in an interview on Wednesday the Senkaku islands are unquestionably Japanese territory.

"Against Chinese action to Senkaku Islands and other parts of the East China Sea ... we have to demonstrate that the government of Japan is resolutely defending our territory with the greater number of Japanese coast guard vessels than that of China... There is no territorial dispute relating to the Senkaku Islands between Japan and other countries," Kishi told CNN.

Kishi's comment on coast guard patrols came as China has passed laws to give its coast guard greater powers. "According to Japanese authorities, Chinese Coast Guard vessels have ventured into Japanese territorial waters, or within 12 nautical miles of Japanese land, a total of 88 times between January 1 and the end of August. While in the contiguous zone, waters between islands but not within 12 miles of shore, there have been 851 Chinese incursions."

Kishi alleged the continued Chinese coast guard presence was an attempt to make Beijing's control of the Senkaku islands a "fait accompli".

On Taiwan, Kishi declared, "What's happening in Taiwan is directly linked to Japan". He told CNN, "Ninety percent of energy that Japan uses is imported through the areas around Taiwan".

Referring to the effects of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, Kishi noted, "What could happen in Taiwan could likely be an issue for Japan, and in that case, Japan will have to take the necessary response to that situation."

Kishi defended Japan's decision to deploy missiles and troops on Yonaguni and plans to do the same in Ishigaki in the near future. He told CNN the actions “demonstrate our strong will to defend our southwestern area of Japanese territory".

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