Japan, UK express serious concern over East, South China seas situation

Japan's Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi sits next to Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi as he waves towards Britain's Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab and Defence Minister Ben Wallace (not pictured) at the start of a video conference at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan Feb 3, 2021. - Reuters

TOKYO (Reuters): Four ministers from Japan and Britain voiced serious concern on Wednesday (Feb 3) about the situation in the East and South China seas and opposed any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, in a apparent reference to China's maritime expansion.

The joint statement was issued after an online meeting of Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi of Japan, and their respective British counterparts Dominic Raab and Ben Wallace.