Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg
Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Wednesday that he was pleased that Japan and NATO had agreed on a new partnership programme ahead of his presence at the NATO Vilnius summit.
Kishida said in a joint statement with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that he was looking forward to expanding cooperation in new areas such as cyber-security and that he intended to enhance cooperation with NATO as it increased its role in the Indo-Pacific.
The new partnership project comes as NATO considers expanding its engagement with Asia and China expands its military presence.
Stoltenberg stated at the announcement that NATO is concerned about China’s massive military buildup and nuclear expansion, and he also condemned North Korea’s missile launches.
“No other partner is closer to NATO than Japan”, he continued, adding that Asia is as important to Europe as Europe is to Asia.
China has reacted angrily to a NATO communiqué produced during the military alliance’s two-day meeting in Lithuania’s capital Vilnius, stating that China has attacked the military alliance’s interests, security, and principles.
China has stated that it opposes NATO’s eastward movement into the Asia-Pacific region and has warned that any action that jeopardizes Beijing’s rights will be greeted with a resolute response.
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