Japan says unilateral actions in South China Sea are unacceptable

Chinese and Japanese defense chiefs meet for 1st time in nearly 3 years

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Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya, left, meets Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in Singapore on Friday.

MASAYA KATO, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told his Chinese counterpart Wei Fenghe on Friday that unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea cannot be accepted.

Meeting on the sidelines of a regional gathering of defense ministers in Singapore, Wei said that freedom of navigation by ships sailing in the sea is "not threatened."

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