Nobuo Kishi has drawn a red line around the the contested Senkaku Islands and will be defending them strongly against China
* Nobuo Kishi threatened to match China's might over disputed Senkaku Islands
* The uninhabited islets are strategically important for shipping and fishing
* China is also warning the US to stay away, threatening to sail near Hawaii
* They sailed near Alaska's Aleutian Islands but maintained international protocol
Japan has staked its claim to the contested Senkaku Islands and will be defending them strongly against China amid escalating tensions in the region, the country's defence minister has warned.
Nobuo Kishi said the territories, known as the Diaoyu Islands in China, unquestionably belong to Japan and warned any provocation from Beijing will be fully matched.
His warnings come as a new three-way nuclear submarine pact between the US, UK and Australia aimed at combatting China was unveiled, to the delight of Japan and Taiwan.
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Update: Japan's defense minister draws red line in island dispute with China (CNN)
WNU Editor: Chinese media has responded .... Japan's massive drills intend to challenge China's sovereignty militarily (Global Times).