Japan, Germany Hold Online '2 - Plus - 2' Talks
The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and Germany have agreed to strengthen bilateral ties in security cooperation and shared concerns about China's recent activities.
The ministers held "two-plus-two" talks in a teleconference format on Tuesday.
Japan's Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo discussed various issues with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.
Motegi said the preconditions for global peace and prosperity can no longer be taken for granted, because of attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force.
Maas responded that there are threats in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe, and that Germany and Japan must stay in close communication with each other.
The two sides shared concerns over a new Chinese law that allows the country's coast guard to use weapons, as well as the situation in Hong Kong and the human rights issue in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
They also agreed to work together toward ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific based on the rule of law.
The German military plans to send a frigate to the region this summer. The defense ministers agreed to deepen security cooperation by conducting joint exercises with Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels and by other means, including cooperation in developing defense equipment.