Obama’s Written Interview, on Senkaku Islands

choi

Q&A: Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun interviews President Obama. Washington Post, Apr 23,2014
www.washingtonpost.com/world/qan ... de72d2ea_story.html
(editorial note (my words, not those of Washington Post): "Following is a transcript of a written interview with President Obama conducted by the Yomiuri Shimbun. The White House provided the newspaper with Obama’s answers on Monday, in advance of the president’s trip to Asia")

Quote:

Q: " * * * What do you think China is aiming at when they advocate a 'new type of major power relations?'  China claims sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands. Would you officially declare that the Islands are covered by Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security treaty? What do you expect China and Japan to do to in order to lessen the tensions in the area?

A: " * * * we welcome the continuing rise of a China that is stable, prosperous and peaceful and plays a responsible role in global affairs. And our engagement with China does not and will not come at the expense of Japan or any other ally.

"At the same time, the United States is going to deal directly and candidly with China on issues where we have differences, such as human rights. I’ve also told President Xi that all our nations have an interest in dealing constructively with maritime issues, including in the East China Sea. Disputes need to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy, not intimidation and coercion. The policy of the United States is clear—the Senkaku Islands are administered by Japan and therefore fall within the scope of Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. And we oppose any unilateral attempts to undermine Japan’s administration of these islands.”

My comment:
(a) President Obama does not seem to address the issue: What do you expect China and Japan to do to in order to lessen the tensions in the area?
(b) Whitehouse.gov itself has not published the transcript.
(c) Yomiuri's publications in its English-language website: "The Japan News by Yomiuri Shuimbun."
(i) Atsuko Matsumoto, Obama: Senkakus ‘Within Scope’ of US-Japan Treaty. The Japan News, Apr 23, 2014.
(ii) Japan, US: Don’t Alter Status Quo. The Japan News, Apr 23, 2014.
the-japan-news.com/news/article/0001229934
("With China’s provocative actions around the Senkaku Islands in mind, a joint statement to be issued after a summit meeting between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday will stipulate that the two countries oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, it was learned Wednesday")

There is no need to read either of the report.