On nuclear policy, Koizumi agrees with Finnish defense chief: Japan ‘must not be naive’
The two defense ministers discussed the Nordic country's decision to allow nuclear weapons onto its soil as Japan weighs a similar policy shift.
Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi is set to travel to the Philippines this week for an expanded ASEAN defense ministerial summit aimed at bolstering regional defense cooperation. During his visit, Koizumi plans to hold bilateral talks with defense officials from the U.S., Philippines, and South Korea. However, a meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun may not occur, as the summit also presents an opportunity for Japanese and Chinese defense representatives to engage in discussions amid strained bilateral relations.
Koizumi emphasized Japan's openness to dialogue, stating that he had previously held talks with Dong during the November ASEAN summit. If Dong does participate this time around, Koizumi intends to engage in frank discussions on various issues of concern. In a previous encounter with Dong, Koizumi identified security issues as the most challenging aspect of Japan-China relations, expressing grave concern over escalating Chinese military activities in the East China Sea and Pacific, particularly around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands claimed by China as Diaoyu.
China's Foreign Ministry maintained a cautious stance on the possibility of Dong attending the summit, stating that the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting Plus aims to foster regional dialogue, trust, and cooperation, while opposing attempts to use the platform for selfish gains or to disrupt ASEAN.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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