TOKYO: Japan’s prime minister appealed to nationalism during a campaign stop on Wednesday near disputed islands in the East China Sea, saying China’s increased activity in the area challenged Japan's security in territory that Tokyo would never compromise over.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made the remarks in Ishigaki, an island about 150 kilometers (95 miles) southeast of the Japanese-controlled islands called Senkaku, which China also claims and calls Diaoyu.

Abe is known for his hawkish security policy and nationalistic remarks, comments that have hurt Japan’s relations with Asian neighbors.

‘‘Today, we face a continuing provocation to our country’s territorial land, sea and airspace,” Abe said in an address to about 50 coast guard officers during his visit to Ishigaki, where he campaigned ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary elections.

Abe said incursions by Chinese ships into the area around the disputed islands made “our country’s territorial security environment an extremely challenging one.”

He urged the coast guard to boost their watchfulness. Abe also took to the streets to make his campaign appeal to Ishigaki voters. ''Senkaku is undoubtedly Japan's inherent territory. Clearly, there is no territorial problem here.

We will not make any compromise, not even a step, on this matter,” he said.

Abe made a similar address Wednesday to soldiers stationed on Miyako island. Tougher territorial defense has been part of the campaign platform for Abe’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.—AP

Opinion

Editorial

Smog hazard
Updated 05 Nov, 2024

Smog hazard

The catastrophe unfolding in Lahore is a product of authorities’ repeated failure to recognise environmental impact of rapid urbanisation.
Monetary policy
05 Nov, 2024

Monetary policy

IN an aggressive move, the State Bank on Monday reduced its key policy rate by a hefty 250bps to 15pc. This is the...
Cultural power
05 Nov, 2024

Cultural power

AS vital modes of communication, art and culture have the power to overcome social and international barriers....
Disregarding CCI
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Disregarding CCI

The failure to regularly convene CCI meetings means that the process of democratic decision-making is falling apart.
Defeating TB
04 Nov, 2024

Defeating TB

CONSIDERING the fact that Pakistan has the fifth highest burden of tuberculosis in the world as per the World Health...
Ceasefire charade
Updated 04 Nov, 2024

Ceasefire charade

The US talks of peace, while simultaneously arming and funding their Israeli allies, are doomed to fail, and are little more than a charade.