Japan and US vow more defense cooperation to counter Chinese threat

 
The United States and Japan today voiced strong concern about China's growing might in unambiguous terms and pledged to work together against attempts to destabilize the region. The comments from the two allies, in a joint statement that followed a virtual meeting of their foreign and defense ministers, highlight how deepening alarm about China - and growing tension over Taiwan - have put Japan's security role in focus.

The ministers expressed concerns that China's efforts "to undermine the rules-based order" presented "political, economic, military and technological challenges to the region and the world", according to their statement. "They resolved to work together to deter and, if necessary, respond to destabilising activities in the region," it said. The ministers also said they had "serious and ongoing concerns" about human rights in China's Xinjiang and Hong Kong regions and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

In a separate virtual summit yesterday, Japan and Australia signed a defence cooperation agreement.

China lodged stern representations with all three countries.

"We deplore and firmly oppose the gross interference in China's internal affairs by the US, Japan and Australia and the fabrication of false information to smear China and undermine the solidarity and mutual trust of countries in the region," foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing in Beijing.

Pacifist Japan has close economic ties to China but is increasingly concerned that it could move against democratic Taiwan, which it claims as part of China."This is clearly a combined message reflecting a common concern, not a case of US arm-twisting to get Japan to sign onto vague euphemisms," said Daniel Russel, who served as the top US diplomat for Asia under president Barack Obama and is now with the Asia Society Policy Institute.


---- Reuters, Tokyo