Japanese, Irish leaders to keep close eye on China, agree Russia must face ‘severe consequences’

The leaders of Japan and Ireland agreed on Wednesday to make sure Russia faces “severe consequences” for its invasion of Ukraine through economic sanctions, while keeping a watchful eye on China’s growing military clout in the Indo-Pacific.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Irish counterpart Micheal Martin “remain appalled by and condemn the devastating attacks” by Russia against Ukraine and urge Moscow to withdraw its forces from “the entire territory of Ukraine,” they said in a joint statement after a meeting in Tokyo.

Calling Ireland an “important partner sharing fundamental values” with Japan, Kishida told reporters alongside Martin after the talks that the two governments will promote “even closer cooperation” in dealing with the war, which has shown no signs of ceasing since it began in late February.

Japan and Ireland have joined in imposing a spate of sanctions led by the United States against Russia, such as freezing the assets of Russian President Vladimir Putin and its central bank and excluding some major Russian lenders from a key international payment network.

The statement also said Kishida and Martin are “seriously concerned” about the situation in the East and South China seas, in an apparent reference to Beijing’s intensifying maritime assertiveness there. The two also called for a “peaceful resolution” to tensions in the Taiwan Strait as Beijing piles pressure on Taiwan, deeming it part of its territory that should be reunited, by force if necessary.

Kishida said the two leaders shared the recognition that the security of the Indo-Pacific and Europe is “indivisible” and that changing the status quo unilaterally by force must not be condoned anywhere in the world.