2 June
Japan's Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya has affirmed with his US and Australian counterparts that their countries will strengthen cooperation, and oppose any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the South China Sea.
Iwaya met US Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan and Australian Defense Minister Linda Reynolds on the sidelines of an Asian security meeting in Singapore on Saturday. Iwaya said it is extremely important that the three countries strongly promote defense cooperation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
The defense chiefs shared concern over China's military buildup in the South China Sea, as well as the country's increasing maritime advances in the East China Sea. They confirmed that their countries will advance joint drills so that they can respond in various situations to counter unilateral attempts to change the status quo. They also agreed to strengthen cooperation in the space and cyber sectors.
The defense chiefs also discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula. North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles in early May. They agreed on the need to fully implement UN Security Council sanctions resolutions. They confirmed that their countries will step up measures to prevent the North from engaging in any evasion of sanctions, such as illegal ship-to-ship transfer.—NHK
