Obama, Abe Discuss Territory Dispute In East China Sea

U.S. President Barack Obama spoke to Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Thursday where the two leaders renewed their commitment to stability and dialogue in the East China Sea amid dispute over an uninhabited island chain between Japan and China.

The talk over the phone comes just days after a summit in California where the U.S. president raised the same issue with his Chinese Counterpart Xi Jinping.

China and Japan are engaged in a long-running dispute over the Tokyo-controlled islands, known in Japan as Senkaku and in China as Diaoyu.

In recent months, the dispute over the uninhabited island chain has worsened with both sides seemingly preparing for an armed showdown with a heavy presence of planes and ships in the East China Sea.

The U.S. president also discussed about North Korea's nuclear programs with the Japanese prime minister, according to a statement released by the White House.

"They pledged to continue to work together closely toward the elimination of North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs," said the White House.

The White House in the statement said that the two leaders expressed their shared desire to work together closely at the up-coming G8 Summit, which is scheduled to be held in North Ireland.

The statement also said that the U.S. president was anxious to welcome Japan to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations as soon as possible.

"The President stressed that the United States looks forward to being able to welcome Japan to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations as early as possible once current TPP members complete their domestic requirements," said the White House.

The U.S. government has already waved the white flag to Japan's entry into the talks on the TPP but the Tokyo government is still awaiting approval from several other members of the group.

Real Time Analytics