Japan and Nato sign partnership agreement
Agreement deepens co-operation with Western alliance as Tokyo faces rising tensions with Beijing over disputed islands in East China Sea
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, concerned about China's rising military spending and disputes with Beijing over islands in the East China Sea, has signed a partnership deal with Nato.
The accord, signed by Abe and Nato Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Tuesday during Abe's visit to the bloc's Brussels headquarters, will deepen Japan's co-operation with the Western alliance in areas such as counter-piracy, disaster relief and humanitarian assistance.
After addressing ambassadors from the 28 Nato nations, Abe drew a parallel between the situation in Ukraine, where Russia has annexed Crimea, and Asia, in an apparent allusion to a Sino-Japanese stand-off over islands in the East China Sea known as the Senkakus in Japan and the Diaoyus in China.
"We will not tolerate any change of status quo through intimidation or coercion or force. This is not only applicable to Europe or Ukraine. This is applicable to East Asia and it is applicable to the whole world," Abe said.
Abe urged Russia and political parties in Ukraine to recognise the legitimacy of Ukraine's May 25 presidential election.
"At the same time, in order to resolve this problem, we have to have dialogue with Russia."