Japan is strongly concerned about China’s aggressive acts towards Vietnamese ships in the East Sea, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said on May 8.

Earlier on May 7, commenting on China’s illegal placement of a drilling rig in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone and continental shelf, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida stressed that the act has raised tension in the region and concerned Japan.

He called for avoidance of unilateral acts in the East Sea.

The same day, a spokesman of the Singapore Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Singapore is concerned about recent developments in the East Sea.-VNA