米国務長官声明「支持」　南シナ海領有権―政府

　菅義偉官房長官は１４日の記者会見で、南シナ海の領有権に関する中国の主張を「完全に違法」と非難したポンペオ米国務長官の声明について、「地域の平和と安定に向けた米国の揺るぎないコミットメントを示すものと認識しており、支持したい」と表明した。また、中国の動きに「懸念」を示し、「南シナ海の緊張を高めるいかなる行為にも反対する」と強調した。
　日中関係はこの数年、改善局面が続いてきたが、沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺の領海侵入が相次ぐ中、中国による一方的な行動には改めて態度を明確にした形だ。菅氏は「わが国は法の支配の重要性、力や威圧でなく平和的な手段を用いることの重要性を一貫して主張してきた」とし、米国などと連携していく方針を示した。（2020/07/14-17:45）

Japan supports U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's statement that China's maritime claims in the South China Sea are "completely unlawful," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said Tuesday.
   "I recognize it as a signal of the United States' unwavering commitment to peace and stability in the region," Suga said at a press conference.
   He also expressed concern over China's movements in the area, saying that Japan opposes any actions that raise tensions in the South China Sea.
   Japan-China relations had been improving in recent years, but Tokyo struck a hard line against its East Asian neighbor over its unilateral activities, especially in light of Chinese ships' frequent intrusions into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southwestern Japan. China claims the Japanese-administered islands, which it calls Diaoyu.
   "Our nation has consistently advocated the importance of the rule of law and the use of peaceful means instead of force and coercion," Suga said, suggesting that Japan will cooperate with the United States for that purpose.