Joe Biden cautions for calm over Asia air defence zone conflict Joe Biden, the US vice-president, used a visit to Seoul on Friday to call for improved relations between South Korea and Japan, as he warned of the risk of a "miscalculation" that could lead to military confrontation with China. Tension in the region has risen over the past two weeks after Beijing laid claim to an air defence zone in the East China Sea that overlaps with corresponding areas claimed by Seoul and Tokyo. "There are practical steps the countries should take to lower the temperature and reduce the risk of conflict," Mr Biden told students at Seoul's Yonsei university. The possibility of miscalculation, a mistake, is real. Speaking after a meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye, Mr Biden criticised China's "sudden announcement" without calling for its reversal, in line with his statements during visits to Tokyo and Beijing earlier this week. But he also stressed the need for improved co-operation between Seoul and Tokyo - reflecting US concerns about a worsening dispute between its two major allies in this region, over whether Japan should make fuller amends for abuses during its 20th-century occupation of Korea. "The entire region will be more stable and more secure, if the leading democracies - Japan, Korea, and the US - are able to improve their relations with one another," he said. Mr Biden stressed the depth and strength of his country's partnership with South Korea, but appeared to remind his audience that it would not take sides in Seoul's argument with Japan. "We're determined to strengthen our [east Asian] alliances," he said, conspicuously emphasising the final syllable. He also alluded to some areas of debate that have added friction to what remains an important alliance for both Seoul and Washington. Amid prolonged bilateral talks over the funding of the US military presence in South Korea - Washington has long pushed for a bigger contribution from Seoul - Mr Biden remarked that "to this day the American people still support to the tune of billions of dollars, without complaint, 28,500 of our sons and daughters standing side by side with their Korean brothers and sisters, standing watch . . . without complaint." Mr Biden also gave voice to exporters" concerns about South Korea's implementation of its free trade agreement with the US, which came into force in March last year. Last month the Financial Times reported that South Korean customs authorities were stepping up checks on imports including cars and agricultural goods, throwing into question their eligibility for lower tariffs under the trade pact. "One set of rules that applies to all companies, domestic or foreign, these are the principles behind the Korea-US free trade agreement," Mr Biden said. Now it's in force . . . trade will continue to grow, if it's fully implemented - and we still have implementation to do. We have to overcome the bureaucratic hurdles that close off trade in areas like autos and agriculture.