According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara conveyed “serious concerns” about China’s increased military activities in waters near Japan during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Saturday, and the two agreed to continue bilateral dialogue.
At their first meeting, held on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue, a summit held in Singapore, Foreign Minister Kihara said the two Asian countries have “many security concerns,” including territorial disputes in the East China Sea and increasing joint military activity between China and Russia around Japan.
Kihara also expressed Japan’s alarm over rising tensions in the South China Sea, stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and called for “frank consultations” between the two countries.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara (left) and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun shake hands in Singapore on June 1, 2024. (Representative photo) (Kyodo News)
Dong said Asian neighbors must strive to implement concrete policies and actions to realize the political consensus that they are “cooperative partners” and “do not view each other as threats.”
The ministers agreed that Tokyo and Beijing will continue to properly operate the bilateral defense hotline, which was launched in early 2023, with the aim of building mutual trust and avoiding unforeseen incidents at sea and in the air.
The talks came after China conducted two days of military drills around Taiwan last week following the inauguration on May 20 of new President Lai Ching-te, whom China denounces as a Taiwanese separatist.
Tensions have risen in the South China Sea as China disputes territorial claims with its neighbors, and Philippine and Chinese vessels have frequently clashed in the disputed waters.
In the East China Sea, Japan has seen Chinese vessels repeatedly intrude into waters around the Tokyo-controlled Senkaku Islands, which China claims as its own and calls the Diaoyu Islands.
According to Japan’s Foreign Ministry, Foreign Minister Kihara also strongly condemned North Korea’s accelerating missile activity and indicated he would seek help from Beijing, Pyongyang’s largest economic backer, to address the issue.
North Korea launched a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday but was unable to put it into orbit due to problems with the rocket’s engine.
It was the first meeting between the defense ministers of the two Asian countries since June last year. Kihara took up his post in September and Dong in December.
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