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Biden, in Japan, Calibrates Message Over Tensions With China Biden Backs Ally Japan, But Avoids Roiling China
(about 5 hours later)
TOKYO — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. delivered a carefully calibrated show of support for Japan on Tuesday, expressing deep concerns about China’s move to control airspace over disputed islands in the East China Sea, but stopping short of a demand that Beijing reverse itself. Instead, he urged the feuding neighbors to talk to each other. TOKYO — Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. delivered a carefully calibrated show of support for Japan on Tuesday, expressing deep concerns about China’s move to control airspace over islands in the East China Sea, but stopping short of a demand that Beijing reverse itself. Instead, he urged the feuding neighbors to talk to each other.
Mr. Biden’s statement, at the start of an unexpectedly challenging trip to Asia that is next taking him to Beijing, captured the complexities for the United States as it navigates a bitter standoff between Japan and China over territorial claims — a dispute it wishes to neither mediate nor see escalate into violence. Mr. Biden’s statement, at the start of an unexpectedly challenging trip to Asia that is next taking him to Beijing, captured the complexities for the United States as it navigates a bitter standoff between Japan and China over the territorial claims — a dispute it wishes to neither mediate nor see escalate.
China’s air defense identification zone, Mr. Biden said after meeting with Japanese leaders, is an effort to “unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea” that raises “the risk of accidents and miscalculation.” He said he would bring up these concerns in detail when he met with the Chinese leadership.China’s air defense identification zone, Mr. Biden said after meeting with Japanese leaders, is an effort to “unilaterally change the status quo in the East China Sea” that raises “the risk of accidents and miscalculation.” He said he would bring up these concerns in detail when he met with the Chinese leadership.
But with China unlikely to rescind a move so laden with nationalistic overtones, the vice president’s focus appeared to be less on rolling back the defense zone than on neutralizing its impact by persuading the Chinese authorities to stop scrambling fighter jets or otherwise disrupting the busy air corridors between Japan and China.But with China unlikely to rescind a move so laden with nationalistic overtones, the vice president’s focus appeared to be less on rolling back the defense zone than on neutralizing its impact by persuading the Chinese authorities to stop scrambling fighter jets or otherwise disrupting the busy air corridors between Japan and China.
China, likewise, seemed eager to defuse tensions. On the eve of Mr. Biden’s visit, the Defense Ministry issued an unusual clarification on the defense zone, declaring that it “will not affect the freedom of overflight, based on international laws, of other countries’ aircraft.” China also seemed eager to defuse tensions. On the eve of Mr. Biden’s visit, the Defense Ministry issued an unusual clarification, saying the zone “will not affect the freedom of overflight, based on international laws, of other countries’ aircraft.”
The statement said that the Chinese military was “fully capable” of exercising control over the zone, which covers a wide swath of the East China Sea, but it added that such deterrence would not always be needed. “Fighter planes are unnecessary,” it said, “when an entering aircraft is found to pose no threat to us, but necessary surveillance is needed.” The statement said that the Chinese military was “fully capable” of exercising control over the zone, a wide swath of the East China Sea, but it added that such deterrence would not always be needed. “Fighter planes are unnecessary,” it said, “when an entering aircraft is found to pose no threat to us, but necessary surveillance is needed.”
In Tokyo, Mr. Biden said that China and Japan needed “crisis management mechanisms and effective channels of communication” to avoid the risk of miscalculation. The countries have discussed a hotline, but the talks have gone nowhere.In Tokyo, Mr. Biden said that China and Japan needed “crisis management mechanisms and effective channels of communication” to avoid the risk of miscalculation. The countries have discussed a hotline, but the talks have gone nowhere.
“The only conflict that is worse than one that is intended is one that is unintended,” the vice president said as a grave-looking Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stood next to him. “The only conflict that is worse than one that is intended is one that is unintended,” the vice president said as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, looking grave, stood next to him.
The Japanese government has called for China to roll back the restricted zone. But Mr. Abe, perhaps seeking to project unity with Mr. Biden, did not repeat that demand on Tuesday. He said the United States and Japan had reaffirmed that they would not alter any joint military operations in the area, and added, “We will not condone any action that will threaten the safety of civilian aircraft.” The Japanese government has called for China to roll back the zone. But Mr. Abe, perhaps seeking to project unity with Mr. Biden, did not repeat that demand Tuesday. He said the United States and Japan had reaffirmed that they would not alter any joint military operations in the area. “We will not condone any action that will threaten the safety of civilian aircraft,” he added.
That appeared to be an attempt to smooth over a disconnect between the United States and Japan over the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidance to American carriers that they identify themselves before entering the restricted zone. Officials in Tokyo have instructed Japanese airlines to ignore the Chinese demand. That appeared to be an attempt to smooth over a disconnect between the United States and Japan over the Federal Aviation Administration’s guidance to American carriers that they identify themselves before entering the restricted zone. Officials in Tokyo have instructed Japanese carriers to ignore the Chinese demand.
Obama administration officials insisted that there was no daylight between the United States and Japan on how to respond to the Chinese zone. The aviation administration, they said, routinely gives guidance whenever a country issues a warning to ships and planes. Obama administration officials insisted that there was no discord between the United States and Japan on how to respond to the Chinese zone. The aviation administration, they said, routinely gives guidance whenever a country issues a warning to ships and planes.
“Nothing that the F.A.A. has done constitutes any acceptance or recognition of this,” said a senior administration official traveling with Mr. Biden. “The U.S. has clearly set forth that our military aircraft will continue to operate normally.”“Nothing that the F.A.A. has done constitutes any acceptance or recognition of this,” said a senior administration official traveling with Mr. Biden. “The U.S. has clearly set forth that our military aircraft will continue to operate normally.”
Administration officials said that Mr. Biden would urge China not to create any other such zones and to show restraint in policing this one. By treating the zone as irrelevant, American officials hope to reduce the Chinese government’s incentive to declare zones in the South China Sea or the Yellow Sea, where it has other territorial disputes.Administration officials said that Mr. Biden would urge China not to create any other such zones and to show restraint in policing this one. By treating the zone as irrelevant, American officials hope to reduce the Chinese government’s incentive to declare zones in the South China Sea or the Yellow Sea, where it has other territorial disputes.
The Japanese government perceives the defense zone as an attempt by the Chinese to assert control over a clump of disputed islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. Japan has a long-established air defense identification zone that covers much of the East China Sea, including those islands. The Japanese government perceives the zone as an attempt by the Chinese to assert control over disputed islands, known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu. Japan has a long-established air defense identification zone that covers much of the East China Sea, including those islands.
Pointedly taking note of that, the Chinese Defense Ministry statement said that Japan’s actions, including “playing up the so-called China threat” and threatening to shoot down Chinese drones, had forced China to make “necessary reactions.”Pointedly taking note of that, the Chinese Defense Ministry statement said that Japan’s actions, including “playing up the so-called China threat” and threatening to shoot down Chinese drones, had forced China to make “necessary reactions.”
The dispute has raised tensions in the region to their highest level in nearly two decades. Some analysts said they believed that the Chinese government was caught off guard by the ferocity of the opposition from the United States, the European Union and Australia, on top of a predictably angry response by Japan and South Korea.The dispute has raised tensions in the region to their highest level in nearly two decades. Some analysts said they believed that the Chinese government was caught off guard by the ferocity of the opposition from the United States, the European Union and Australia, on top of a predictably angry response by Japan and South Korea.
But in Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, rejected suggestions that China should rescind the defense zone, saying it was fully in compliance with international law. He suggested that China was open to the idea of establishing crisis management mechanisms.But in Beijing, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hong Lei, rejected suggestions that China should rescind the defense zone, saying it was fully in compliance with international law. He suggested that China was open to the idea of establishing crisis management mechanisms.
Mr. Hong contended, however, that Japan was not. “The Japanese side unilaterally, on one hand, declares they want dialogue, but then they close the door to dialogue,” he said.Mr. Hong contended, however, that Japan was not. “The Japanese side unilaterally, on one hand, declares they want dialogue, but then they close the door to dialogue,” he said.
For Mr. Biden, the dispute has been a distraction on a trip that he had hoped would promote a range of other issues, like a trans-Pacific trade agreement and efforts to curb the nuclear threat in North Korea. In his remarks, Mr. Abe raised the standoff with China as his first order of business with Mr. Biden, who mentioned it well down a list of other priorities. For Mr. Biden, the dispute has been a distraction on a trip he had hoped would promote a range of other issues, like a trans-Pacific trade agreement and efforts to curb the nuclear threat in North Korea. Still, Mr. Biden found time to tour a Japanese Internet company founded and run by a female entrepreneur, Tomoko Namba. Joined by the new United States ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, and Catherine Russell, the State Department’s ambassador for global women’s issues, he chatted with five female employees at the company’s Tokyo offices.
Still, Mr. Biden found time to tour a Japanese Internet company founded and run by a female entrepreneur, Tomoko Namba. Joined by the new United States ambassador to Japan, Caroline Kennedy, he chatted with five female employees on a leather banquette at the company’s sleek Tokyo offices. “Do your husbands like you working full time?” he asked the women, who nodded energetically. He also inquired whether the company, known as DeNA, offered child care service, and whether female employees could work from home.
“Do your husbands like you working full time?” the vice president asked the women, who nodded energetically. He also inquired whether the company, known as DeNA, offered child care service, and whether female employees were allowed to work from home.

Mark Landler reported from Tokyo, and Jane Perlez from Beijing.

Mr. Biden seemed to delight in being accompanied around town by Ms. Kennedy, whose name has given her celebrity status in a post that has frequently been held by prominent political figures, including one of Mr. Biden’s predecessors, Walter F. Mondale.
Before his meeting with Mr. Abe, the vice president jokingly introduced himself by saying, “My name is Joe Biden, and I’m accompanying the ambassador” — a line that echoed John F. Kennedy’s famous quip when he was overshadowed on a presidential trip to France in 1961 by his glamorous wife, Jacqueline Kennedy.

Mark Landler reported from Tokyo and Jane Perlez from Beijing