Admiral: Asia rift holds risk for U.S.

WASHINGTON - The commander of U.S. forces in the Pacific said Thursday that the tensions between China and Japan are likely to grow unless they talk to each other.

The two Asian powers are at loggerheads over remote islands that are administered by Japan but also claimed by China. Beijing also has been angered by a recent visit by Japan’s prime minister to a war shrine.

Adm. Samuel Locklear said at a news conference that “the risk calculation can grow” when two large powers have a disagreement but aren’t talking to each other and when there’s no clear resolution in sight.

Washington’s treaty obligations to its ally Japan mean it could be drawn into a conflict over the islands, known as Senkaku by Japan and Diayou by China.

Locklear said the U.S. has to continue to encourage restraint and professionalism by the two nations’ maritime security forces operating near the islands, and hope for a diplomatic solution.

“In many cases, those are young naval officers or young civilian mariners who are out there” making decisions, Locklear said.

Front Section, Pages 6 on 01/24/2014

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