§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the new "defence co-operation guidelines" agreed between Japan and the United States require the United States to come to the assistance of Japan in the event of disputes over ownership of islands in the South China Sea claimed not only by Japan but by other states in the area; and whether this commitment (which may involve Diego Garcia), in advance of the legal decisions, may not be destabilising and therefore deserve the pre-emptive attention of the United Nations Secretary General. [HL3548]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanThe guidelines for US-Japan defence co-operation state that the aim of the governments is to co-operate to promote, in line with the basic principles of international law, the defence of Japan and a more stable international security environment. We welcome these objectives.