Fumio Kishida confirmed that the US-led navy bloc is trying to open a liaison workplace in Japan
Japan has no plans to change into a member of NATO, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has mentioned.
He informed the nationwide parliament on Wednesday that Tokyo wouldn’t be becoming a member of the US-led navy bloc in any type, based on Reuters.
Earlier this month, Japanese Ambassador to the US Koji Tomita informed Nikkei Asia that Japan was “working” in the direction of opening a NATO liaison workplace in Tokyo, which might change into the bloc’s first in Asia.
The similar outlet had earlier reported that the mission, which is scheduled to open subsequent yr, could be aimed toward facilitating NATO’s consultations with Japan and its different allies within the Asia-Pacific, akin to Australia, New Zealand and South Korea, in gentle of geopolitical challenges posed by China and Russia.
Kishida confirmed to MPs that NATO is contemplating the opportunity of establishing a liaison workplace within the nation. However, he added that he was “not aware of any decision made” throughout the bloc concerning the mission.
The alliance has just lately brazenly admitted its pursuits within the Indo-Pacific. Last June, the bloc’s allies from the area participated in a NATO summit for the primary time ever. Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea have additionally been invited to the occasion this yr. The 2023 summit will happen in Vilnius, Lithuania on July 11 and 12.
Russia, which strongly opposes NATO’s enlargement in Eastern Europe, has criticized the bloc’s makes an attempt to increase its actions into Asia. In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned the push by the US and its allies to create what he referred to as a “global NATO” resembled the actions of Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan within the Thirties earlier than the outbreak of World War II.
China has additionally urged its Asian neighbors to train “high vigilance” in response to experiences of NATO planning to open its first liaison workplace within the area. Such a transfer “will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability and stoke camp confrontation,” Beijing warned, including that the Asia-Pacific area was “not a wrestling ground for geopolitical competition.”
(RT.com)