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The exchange came at London’s Defence & Security Equipment International, or DSEI, conference, which gathers naval leaders from around the world. Yubai sat with U.S. Navy Rear Adm. Jeff Harley, assistant deputy chief of naval operations for operations, plans and strategy, and Vice Adm. Umio Otsuka, president of the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Command and Staff College.

Yubai spent most of his speech talking about the Maritime Silk Road, Chinese President Xi Jinping’s concept of creating ports along global trade routes. But the real point of interest was the South China Sea, where U.S. and Japan have protested China’s island-building. U.S. Adm. Harry Harris, Pacific Command commander, has said the islands are clearly intended for military use as forward operating bases. China has been rapidly building a giant airstrip Fiery Cross Reef. The U.S. Navy has released video of the islands by a P-8 spy plane. The Navy also released audio radio calls of the Chinese Navy telling the American plane to get lost.

“I’m firmly convinced that the problems around the South China Sea, so far, can be successfully solved with the joint efforts and consultation of the hosting countries around the South China Sea,” Yubai said.

Otsuka, in his remarks, shared the fable about a woman who tells her husband of 30 years she had a dream that she received a giant diamond ring for her birthday. She asks her husband what the dream means? So, for her birthday, he gave her a book about the meaning of dreams.

The Japanese admiral said, “As not a native English speaker, I hope you pick up what I truly mean from the context by reading between the lines.”

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