Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe and Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff are to announce a joint statement on August 1 which will include mention of counter-measures against China, reports Japan's Kyodo International News on July 27.
A leaked draft of the statement says that both Japan and Brazil respect rule of law and that China's declaration of an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea last November and its growing aggression in the East and South China seas require counter measures. The draft states that "conflicts in the South China Sea should be resolved peacefully and in line with international law without the use of force or threat," according to the report. The statement also says Japan and Brazil will cooperate in their efforts to reform the UN Security Council.
Both Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei Japan Review interpreted Abe's visit shortly after Xi's visits to the same region in early July, as intended to strengthen Japan's influence in Latin America and to counter growing Chinese power there.
Read the full story at Want China Times