As his country increases cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) amid China’s growing assertive military activity, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced plans to visit Lithuania next month to attend a NATO leaders’ summit.
The Prime Minister disclosed that, at NATO’s invitation, he will attend the leaders’ summit, scheduled for July 11–12 in Lithuania. He added that he will also visit the NATO headquarters in Belgium. Discussions are also underway to open a NATO office in Japan.
One of the main topics to be tackled there will be the continued support of Ukraine. NATO Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg has stated that the alliance will promise Ukraine to help modernize their army during the upcoming summit.
Speaking at a news conference which marks the end of a five-month long parliamentary session, Kishida on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, noted that bolstering diplomatic and security measures were among his top policy priorities in the first half of this year.
He emphasized that the goal is “to raise Japan’s presence in the international society, to defend the peace of our country and the people’s lives.”
Japan has been strengthening ties with NATO against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and concerns that it may embolden China’s already assertive military activity in East Asia.
Describing the current security environment of the global community as “the most severe and complex” of the postwar era, Kishida vowed to “fully utilize diplomatic tools” to contribute to the peace and stability of the global community while serving Japan’s national interest.
Kishida divulged that Japan will cooperate with the United States on China policy, while encouraging Beijing to fulfill its responsibility as a global power to observe international rules and order.
Kishida Stresses Need For Dialogue With China
Kishida emphasized the significance of communication with China in order to forge “constructive and stable” ties while his nation works with its most important ally, the United States. He claimed that the stability and peace of the world depended on the state of US-China ties.
“It is important to continue making effort to have close dialogue at all levels, including myself, and in that process, I will consider my possible visit to China, though nothing has been decided right now.”
Fumio Kishida
China’s aggressive behavior in the area has Japan worried more and more, especially in the area of the disputed islands Beijing also claims in the East China Sea but which Japan controls.
His remarks follow a meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Beijing earlier this week, where they agreed to repair the fraying relations between their nations but stopped short of resuming military-to-military contacts meant to prevent mishaps and conflict over Taiwan.
Moreover, Kishida stressed the importance of dialogue with North Korea, iterating that he is stepping up his effort toward achieving a possible summit with North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un on the decades-old issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang.
The issue was only partially resolved and North Korea has never provided a full account for those still believed to be held.
Kishida opined that with many family members of the abductees growing older, resolving the problem has become an increasingly urgent human rights issue.
