河野氏、尖閣周辺活動に「強い懸念」　習氏国賓来日向け対応要求―日中防衛相会談

　【北京時事】河野太郎防衛相は１８日、中国の魏鳳和国務委員兼国防相と北京で会談し、中国の公船や軍用機が沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺で頻繁に活動していることについて「強い懸念を持っている」と表明した。河野氏は「一つ一つ懸案を解決していくことが重要だ。中国側の前向きな対応を期待している」と述べた。
　河野氏は来春の習近平国家主席の国賓来日に対し自民党内から反対意見が出ていることを踏まえ、「良好な環境をつくる必要がある。中国側に相当な努力をしてもらわないといけない」と強調し、尖閣問題などで善処するよう強く求めた。
　防衛相の訪中は２００９年３月の浜田靖一氏以来。双方は偶発的な衝突を避けるためのホットラインの早期開設を目指すことを確認した。中国側によると、魏氏は「立場の違いを適切に管理し、安定的な両国関係の発展を願っている」と語った。（2019/12/18-22:31）

Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono told his Chinese counterpart, Wei Fenghe, on Wednesday that Tokyo is "strongly concerned" about frequent activities by Chinese government ships and military aircraft around the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.
   "It's important to solve problems one by one," Kono said at a meeting in Beijing with the Chinese minister of national defense, who doubles as state councillor. "I hope to see a positive response from the Chinese side," he added.
   Kono also urged China to deal with issues related to the islands and other matters ahead of an expected visit to Japan by Chinese President Xi Jinping as state guest next spring. "We need to create a favorable environment, and I want China to make considerable efforts," Kono said.
   The planned Japan visit by the Chinese leader has been opposed by some members of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. The islands are claimed by China, which calls them Diaoyu.
   Kono is the first Japanese defense chief to visit China since the March 2009 trip by then Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada.