Beijing, Tokyo Look To Launch Direct Security Comms Line In Spring

MNI (London) - The Japanese Defence Ministry has stated that Japan and China have agreed to work on 'a direct communication line for security' from this spring. Comes as part of Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong visit to Japan to hold a bilateral security dialogue with Japanese Senior Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Shigeo Yamada.

• Direct comms lines between national capitals are intended to allow the swift de-escalation of tensions in the event of an aggressive action attributed to the other that could result in the outbreak of conflict.
• Given the long-standing tensions between China and Japan over the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands in the East China Sea the establishment of a direct comms link could mitigate the prospect of conflict cause via miscalculation by one or both sides.