Japan, EU agree to seek free Indo-Pacific, cooperate over Ukraine
- The visit by Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel is the first to Japan for the two EU chiefs since they took office in 2019
- Ursula von der Leyen described Indo-Pacific as ‘a theatre of tensions’ in a veiled reference to an assertive China while also noting North Korea’s threat
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his EU counterparts agreed on Thursday to cooperate in realising a “free and open” Indo-Pacific and ensuring economic and energy security while taking strong steps against Russia to stop its war in Ukraine.
In a joint press appearance after their meeting in Tokyo, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the 27-member bloc wants to take a more “active” role in the region that is thriving and also “a theatre of tensions,” in a veiled reference to the rise of an assertive China while also noting North Korea’s threat.
In the in-person meeting also involving European Council President Charles Michel, the leaders also affirmed their policy of imposing strong sanctions on Russia.
“Russia’s invasion of Ukraine shakes the foundation of international order not just covering Europe but also Asia and is absolutely impermissible,” Kishida said in the briefing.
Michel said Japan and the European Union “have deep and dynamic relationship united by the fundamental values of democracy and rule of law,” and called for strengthening the partnership.
“Russia’s war against Ukraine has shown that deeper cooperation is not a luxury but a vital necessity,” he added.
Von der Leyen said: “Like the European Union, Japan understands what is at stake here. Not just Ukraine’s future. Not just Europe’s future. But the future of a rules-based world order. This makes it all the more essential for like-minded partners like the EU and Japan to strengthen their relations.”