Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2nd L) raises a toast with Brunei's Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (L) and other ASEAN countries' leaders during a welcome dinner of Japan-ASEAN commemorative summit hosted by Abe at the Abe's official residence in Tokyo December 13, 2013. REUTERS/Shizuo Kambayashi/Pool
TOKYO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Japan and Southeast Asian countries called for freedom of the air and sea on Saturday, as China's military assertiveness raises regional tensions and after U.S. and Chinese warships narrowly avoided collision in the disputed South China Sea.
China's recent announcement of an air defence zone covering disputed islands in the East China Sea and its territorial claims in the South China Sea have raised concerns that a minor incident in the disputed seas could quickly escalate.
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