US opposes coercive China action in island dispute

U.S. Secretary of Sate John Kerry, left, is greeted by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prior to their meeting at Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo Sunday, April 14, 2013. After meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing, Kerry traveled to Tokyo to discuss the continuing North Korea crisis with Japanese officials. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

U.S. Secretary of Sate John Kerry, left, is greeted by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prior to their meeting at Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo Sunday, April 14, 2013. After meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing, Kerry traveled to Tokyo to discuss the continuing North Korea crisis with Japanese officials. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

U.S. Secretary of Sate John Kerry, left, and Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida pose for photographers prior to their meeting at Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo Sunday, April 14, 2013. After meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing, Kerry traveled to Tokyo to discuss the continuing North Korea crisis with Japanese officials. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

U.S. Secretary of Sate John Kerry, left, is greeted by Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida prior to their meeting at Foreign Ministry's Iikura Guesthouse in Tokyo Sunday, April 14, 2013. After meeting with top Chinese leaders in Beijing, Kerry traveled to Tokyo to discuss the continuing North Korea crisis with Japanese officials. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

U.S. Secretary of Sate John Kerry waves to the media upon arriving at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo, Sunday, April 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi)

TOKYO (AP) ? The United States says it's committed to defending Japan and opposes any coercive action by China to seize territory under Japanese control in the East China Sea.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the U.S. isn't taking a position in the dispute over the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.

Japan and China have sparred over the uninhabited islands in recent years.

Kerry's strong words of support Sunday for America's ally come just a day after he promised new levels of U.S.-Chinese cooperation on a host of problems, most notably North Korea's nuclear program.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-04-14-US-Japan/id-1336d9ef571b468a80f48678dfd48d55

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