China seeks to boost clout, territory claims during pandemic: Japan

Japan said Tuesday it is closely monitoring attempts by China to boost its global clout, with Beijing dispatching medical professionals and providing face masks and assistance to other countries in response to the novel coronavirus pandemic.In a defense white paper, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's government criticized Beijing for "relentlessly" attempting to undermine Tokyo's administration of the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, even at a time when international coordination is required to contain the virus.It was the first time that a defense white paper has characterized China's actio…READ FULL ARTICLE