Criticism Ahead Of The Meeting, US Foreign Minister Antony Blinken Called China Aggressive And Repressive

JAKARTA - United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken criticized China in connection with China's dispute with several countries in the East China Sea and the South China Sea.

In the criticism delivered Wednesday, March 17 in Tokyo, Japan, Blinken said that China was acting aggressively and repressively in Asia. According to him, China is increasing tensions, not reducing them in the two regions.

Antony Blinken said Beijing was acting more repressively at home and more aggressively abroad, including in the East China Sea, including about Senkakus, as well as the South China Sea as well as concerning Taiwan.

Senkakus, also referred to as Diaoyu in China, is a small island in the East China Sea controlled by Japan but claimed by China.

"Japan is very interested in what is happening with Taiwan and the Taiwan strait and we spent some time comparing notes on that", Blinken said explaining Tuesday's talks with Japanese officials.

Blinken is known to visit Japan and South Korea along with Defense Minister Lloyd Austin, to strengthen the United States' alliance in Asia. Meanwhile, this weekend Austin plans to meet with Chinese representatives in Alaska.

"We look forward to the opportunity to explain very clearly to our Chinese partners some of the concerns we have about the actions they are taking", said Blinken.

It is known that China's vast territorial claims in the East China Sea and the South China Sea have become a priority issue in the increasingly complicated China-US relationship and an important security issue for Japan.