US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has confirmed that his country's defence treaty with Japan covers the contested Senkaku Islands in the South China Sea.
Beijing and Tokyo both claim sovereignty over the islands...known as the Diaoyo Islands in China...due to their strategic position.
Secretary Tillerson was speaking to reporters after joint defence talks with Japanese ministers in Washington DC:
IN: "The United States..."
OUT: "...covers these islands."
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