Japan, Oman seek to ensure maritime order amid China's naval assertiveness

Japan and Oman have vowed to work together to challenge what Japanese officials are calling “China’s growing naval assertiveness” in the Asia-Pacific region.
The countries made the agreement on Wednesday as Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and his Omani counterpart, Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdullah, met in the capital of the Middle East country.
During the talks, Kono said Japan intended to pursue a “free and open Indo-Pacific” region, encompassing Asia, the Middle…