Japan and China have established a direct military hotline to prevent maritime and air clashes as tensions grow over competing territorial claims in the East China Sea.
Both nations announced the setting up the confidential communications line on Friday, reported Jiji Press.
“We will utilize it not only for responding when unforeseen circumstances occur but also for building trust between the two countries,” the Japanese Defense Ministry said.
The Jiji Press report said the line would soon be operational and would link the leadership of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces at the nation’s Defense Ministry with Chinese defense ministry officials.
The announcement came ahead of Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi’s visit to Beijing on April 1 for talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang, the first such visit by a Japanese foreign minister in three years….