일본, '남중국해 영유권 中주장 불법' 美성명 "환영·지지"

(도쿄=연합뉴스) 박세진 특파원 = 마이크 폼페이오 미 국무장관의 성명 발표를 계기로 남중국해 영유권을 둘러싼 미국과 중국의 대치 수위가 높아진 상황에서 일본 정부 각료들이 잇따라 미국을 지지한다는 입장을 밝혔다.

일본 정부 대변인인 스가 요시히데(菅義偉) 관방장관은 14일 오후 정례 기자회견에서 폼페이오 미 국무장관이 남중국해 영해 및 해양자원에 대한 중국의 권리 주장을 불법으로 규정한 성명을 발표한 것에 대해 "지역의 안보환경이 한층 엄중해지는 가운데 지역 평화와 안정을 위한 미국의 확고한 약속을 보여주는 것으로 인식한다"며 "이러한 미국의 약속을 지지하고 싶다"고 말했다.

스가 요시히데 일본 관방장관. [교도=연합뉴스 자료사진]

그는 이어 "우리나라는 법 지배의 중요성과 힘이나 위압이 아닌 평화적 수단을 사용하는 것의 중요성을 일관되게 주장하고 있다"며 남중국해 영유권 문제에서 미국과 보조를 맞춰 나가겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다.

스가 장관은 "앞으로도 (일본 정부는) 자유롭고 열린 평화로운 바다를 지키기 위해 계속해서 미국을 비롯한 국제사회와 협력할 것"이라며 남중국해에서의 최근 중국 활동을 우려하면서 주시하고 있다고 언급했다.

그는 또 "남중국해를 둘러싼 문제는 지역의 평화와 안정에 직결되는 국제사회의 정당한 관심사"라며 일본은 남중국해의 긴장을 고조시키는 어떠한 주장에도 반대한다고 덧붙였다.

남중국해 영유권 분쟁지역 [연합뉴스 그래픽]

모테기 도시미쓰(茂木敏充) 일본 외무상도 스가 장관과 거의 같은 표현으로 미국 입장을 두둔하고 나섰다.

모테기 외무상은 이날 기자회견에서 "지역의 안보환경이 한층 엄중해지는 가운데 지역 평화와 안정을 위한 미국의 확고한 약속을 보여주는 것"이라며 폼페이오 장관의 성명을 "환영하고 지지한다"고 말했다.

그는 "일본은 힘이나 위압이 아닌, 법의 지배와 평화적 수단을 사용하는 것의 중요성을 일관되게 주장해 왔다"며 "앞으로도 자유롭고 열린 평화로운 바다를 지키기 위해 미국을 위시한 국제사회와 협력해 나가겠다"고 강조했다.

폼페이오 미 국무장관은 13일(미국 현지시간) 중국이 일방적으로 남중국해의 영해 및 해양 자원에 대한 권리를 주장하는 것은 불법이라는 내용의 성명을 발표했고, 중국 정부는 곧바로 미국이 남중국해 문제의 객관적 사실을 무시하고 있다고 반발했다.

parksj@yna.co.kr

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