TOKYO
Thu Jun 4, 2015 6:32am EDT
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday said he agreed with Philippine President Benigno Aquino to oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the South China Sea.

"Regarding the South China Sea issue, we've reaffirmed that we are concerned about the large-scale reclamation and that we are opposed to unilateral attempts to change the status quo," Abe told a news conference after meeting with the visiting Philippine president.

Their meeting came at a time when China has been taking an increasingly assertive posture in the South China Sea, building artificial islands in areas where the Philippines and other countries have rival claims.