A Japanese cruiser tracked by Chinese warships. Concern of the United States. Clash between Beijing’s hegemonic expansion and Japan and the United States attempts to limit it.

Tokyo (AsiaNews / Agencies)-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called the tracking by military radar, of Japanese Navy vessel a "provocation". In his speech to parliament today, he stressed that these actions increase tensions over the islands disputed between the two countries, just as there had been hopes and signs of détente and dialogue.

On 30 January, a Chinese ship pointed its radar - which controls missile launches - against a Japanese cruiser. For Abe "this was a dangerous action which could lead to unpredictable consequences."

The Japanese Defence Minister, Itsunori Onodera, did not specify the area where the accident occurred, but the media claim that the site was close to the disputed islands, called Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by the Chinese.

According to experts, tracking a vessel with radar that controls weapons is very dangerous because it could push the target to respond.

The United States say they are "concerned" about the incident.

The tension in the South China Sea is steadily increasing. The root cause is a struggle for the sovereignty of some islands, whose waters are rich in fish and whose seabed is rich deposits of oil and gas. They are becoming a symbol for Beijing, which wants to assert its hegemony in the Far East. For Japan and the United States the question is an opportunity to limit Chinese expansionism.

• JAPAN
• -
• CHINA
• islands
• radar
• ships
• USA
• tensions