Disputed islands covered by US-Japan accord – Hagel

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Islands at the center of a territorial row between Japan and China are covered by a military protection accord between Washington and Tokyo, United States Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel said on Monday.

“The United States does not take a position on the ultimate sovereignty of the islands, but we do recognize they are under the administration of Japan and fall under our security treaty obligations,” Hagel said at a news conference with his Japanese counterpart Itsunori Onodera.