Kerry renews U.S. pledge to Japan security, including East China Sea islets

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry told Japanese leaders on Monday that Washington's treaty commitments to Japan's security remain "iron-clad" and cover all territories under Tokyo's administration, including tiny islands in the East China Sea that China also claims.

Kerry renewed the security pledge related to the islets, known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China, at a New York news conference with Japan's foreign and defence ministers to unveil updated U.S.-Japan defence guidelines on the eve of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's talks with President Barack Obama.