Japan’s defence chief, US commander share concerns over China’s maritime activities

Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi and Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider also confirmed continued bilateral cooperation to counter North Korea’s military threat

The meeting came days after foreign ministers of Japan, the US, Australia and India reaffirmed maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region

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Japanese Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 11:52pm, 8 Oct 2020Updated: 1:32am, 9 Oct 2020

Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said he and the United States military’s top general stationed in the country met on Thursday and shared concerns over China’s expanding maritime activities in the East and South China seas.

During their talks at the headquarters of the US Yokota Air Base on the outskirts of Tokyo, Kishi and Lieutenant General Kevin Schneider, commander of US Forces Japan, also confirmed continued bilateral cooperation to counter North Korea’s military threat.

“During the discussion, the two reiterated the critical importance of the US-Japan alliance to maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region,” US Forces Japan said in a statement. “The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to work together bilaterally to address common security threats.”

Kishi’s first visit to the base in western Tokyo after taking office came days after foreign ministers of the two countries plus those of Australia and India reaffirmed maritime security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region in a Tokyo meeting.

The defence chief also inspected the Air Self-Defense Force’s Air Defense Command Headquarters, which is located in Yokota and in charge of missile defence operations, to check the country’s airspace monitoring system, including how to respond to North Korean ballistic missiles.

The US Yokota Air Base on the outskirts of Tokyo. File photo: Reuters