Washington Confirms Japan-U.S. Security Pact Covers Disputed Islets:

Tokyo, March 5 (Jiji Press)--The U.S. government has confirmed that
the Japan-U.S. security treaty covers a group of small islands in the East
China Sea claimed by Japan, China and Taiwan, the top government spokesman
said Thursday.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Takeo Kawamura told reporters that
Washington showed the view that the islands, known as Senkaku in Japan and
Diaoyu in China, are under Japanese administration and the U.S.-Japan
security treaty applies to areas under Japanese administration.
But he declined to say when the U.S. side informed Japan of this.
Kawamura's remarks came after Prime Minister Taro Aso last month
told a House of Representatives committee meeting that the Senkaku Islands
are covered by the security pact.
China lodged a protest over Aso's remark, saying that such a claim
is unacceptable.