**Kishida meets Johnson in London as part of 5-nation trip**
LONDON (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed in principle Thursday on a defense cooperation pact as part of their efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, in a veiled counter to an increasingly assertive China.
A reciprocal access agreement, when signed, would enable faster deployment of their troops and allow them to engage in joint training and disaster relief efforts. Japan recently signed a similar RAA with Australia.
Kishida highly appreciated Britain’s increased involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, and the two leaders expressed “strong concern” about unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas and “rapid but not transparent” military build-up and activities, the Japanese government said.
The two leaders agreed to resolutely counter such unilateral attempts or economic coercion, the government said, without singling out China, the world’s second-largest economy that has been attempting to expand its sphere of influence with its military and economic clout.
“Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia,” Kishida said at a press conference in London after meeting with Johnson. “Russia’s aggression is not an issue only for Europe. The international order encompassing the Indo-Pacific is at stake.”
In that respect, Kishida said, “It is a major outcome that Prime Minister Johnson and I reached an agreement in principle” on the defense pact.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was another major agenda item for the summit talks. Japan, for its part, has raised the alarm about the ramifications for Asia of the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, especially in light of China’s perceived desire to seize Taiwan, by force if necessary.
So i can already see Xi calling Putin for a strong talk, because that is another direct action following the Invasion of UA.
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**Kishida meets Johnson in London as part of 5-nation trip**
LONDON (Kyodo) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed in principle Thursday on a defense cooperation pact as part of their efforts to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific, in a veiled counter to an increasingly assertive China.
A reciprocal access agreement, when signed, would enable faster deployment of their troops and allow them to engage in joint training and disaster relief efforts. Japan recently signed a similar RAA with Australia.
Kishida highly appreciated Britain’s increased involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, and the two leaders expressed “strong concern” about unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East and South China seas and “rapid but not transparent” military build-up and activities, the Japanese government said.
The two leaders agreed to resolutely counter such unilateral attempts or economic coercion, the government said, without singling out China, the world’s second-largest economy that has been attempting to expand its sphere of influence with its military and economic clout.
“Ukraine may be tomorrow’s East Asia,” Kishida said at a press conference in London after meeting with Johnson. “Russia’s aggression is not an issue only for Europe. The international order encompassing the Indo-Pacific is at stake.”
In that respect, Kishida said, “It is a major outcome that Prime Minister Johnson and I reached an agreement in principle” on the defense pact.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was another major agenda item for the summit talks. Japan, for its part, has raised the alarm about the ramifications for Asia of the unfolding crisis in Ukraine, especially in light of China’s perceived desire to seize Taiwan, by force if necessary.
So i can already see Xi calling Putin for a strong talk, because that is another direct action following the Invasion of UA.