Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida yesterday said he would seek to build a multilayered defense network with other countries while bolstering military cooperation with the US as he seeks to strengthen Japan’s deterrence in a challenging security environment.
Speaking to a group of reporters at his official residence, Kishida also reiterated his commitment to achieving a lasting peace in Ukraine.
The comments come ahead of his trip to Washington for a summit with US President Joe Biden and a three-way leaders’ meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
Photo: AP
“Pushing ahead on cooperation with like-minded countries on security, including defense equipment and technology, will lead to the establishment of a multilayered network, and by expanding that we can improve deterrence,” he said.
The prime minister is set to meet Biden one-on-one on Wednesday next week before the two hold the first-ever three-way summit with the Philippine leader.
Kishida and Marcos have each enhanced their bilateral military cooperation with their mutual ally as they confront separate territorial disputes with China, while Japan has transferred equipment such as radar units to the Philippines.
The three are to agree on joint naval patrols in the South China Sea later this year, Politico reported last month, a move that could provoke a strong reaction from China. They are also set to reach agreements on economic security issues like supply chains for nickel, the Nikkei Shimbun reported this week.
The US is seeking to develop a lattice-like structure whereby its allies cooperate among themselves as well as with Washington to counter China’s growing might. The trilateral summit with the Philippines follows on from a similar unprecedented meeting involving Japan and South Korea last year.
Kishida said he would seek to strengthen partnerships with Australia and the UK, but said nothing was decided on cooperation with the AUKUS group, of which both nations are members.
In related news, South Korea is in talks with China and Japan to host a three-way summit next month, Japanese and South Korean media reported, restoring a process that has been on hold since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and political tensions.
South Korea, which would likely host the long-delayed event, is looking to hold the summit late next month, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper reported yesterday, citing a government source it did not name.
Kyodo News of Japan reported earlier the meeting could be held next month and discussions are set to touch on economic cooperation and regional issues — citing diplomatic sources it did not name.
The office of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol reiterated that it has been in discussions for the three-way summit when asked about the reports and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul said it would release a date for the event when one has been set.
South Korea has been pressing for months to resume the summit and foreign ministers from the three agreed in November to push for a meeting. However, momentum has slowed since then.
Japan’s top government spokesman, Yoshimasa Hayashi, told reporters yesterday that Tokyo would work with China and South Korea for a summit.
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