US, Japanese officials hold discussion on islands row
Baku, October 16 (AZERTAC). Tokyo on Monday briefed Washington on its stance in the Diaoyu Islands diplomatic standoff during high-level talks in Japan`s capital as the country`s month-long territorial row with China continues.
Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba on Monday met visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Bill Burns in Tokyo.
Gemba sought Washington`s understanding of Japan`s position that no territorial dispute exists over the uninhabited islands.
After arriving in Tokyo on Sunday, Burns also met Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto and Shinzo Abe, leader of Japan`s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and former prime minister.
Washington has affirmed that it does not have a position on the row, and it rejected a mediation role.
Yuan Peng, an expert on US studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said Washington is making unseen efforts to keep the situation from spiralling out of control, and its public gesture of "no mediation" has given it greater flexibility in coordinating both sides.
Meanwhile, Gemba is visiting Britain, France and Germany this week, and Japanese media said the minister will highlight his trip with broad publicity to justify Japan`s claim over the Diaoyu Islands.
Beijing on Monday warned that Japan`s attempt to seek support from other countries on the Diaoyu Islands spat with China is completely futile.
Yuan Peng, the US studies expert, said that Washington early on has seen the advantages it can get from the row over the islands, and the islands have so far been used as a tool to help Washington`s strategic return to a pivotal role to Asia.
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