Robert Besser
12 Jan 2022, 08:58 GMT+10
WASHINGTON D.C.: The United States and Japan have expressed their concern over China's growing military power, and pledged to work together against attempts to destabilize Asia.
Their joint statement came after a virtual meeting of their foreign and defense ministers, who discussed their growing alarm about China, tension over Taiwan, and Japan's role in maintaining security in the region.
In their joint statement, the ministers said China's efforts "to undermine the rules-based order" presented "political, economic, military and technological challenges to the region and the world."
"They resolved to work together to deter and, if necessary, respond to destabilizing activities in the region," the statement added.
In a separate virtual summit on January 6, Japan and Australia signed a defense cooperation agreement.
In response to these actions, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing in Beijing, "We deplore and firmly oppose the gross interference in China's internal affairs by the U.S., Japan and Australia, and the fabrication of false information to smear China and undermine the solidarity and mutual trust of countries in the region."
Japan has close economic ties with China, but is concerned that China could seek to occupy democratic Taiwan.
"This is clearly a combined message reflecting a common concern, not a case of U.S. arm-twisting to get Japan to sign onto vague euphemisms," said Daniel Russel from the Asia Society Policy Institute, as quoted by Reuters.
Before the talks, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington and Tokyo planned to draft a new defense agreement to counter emerging threats, such as hypersonic weapons and space-based capabilities.
The U.S. and China, as well as Russia, are racing to develop hypersonic weapons, whose extreme speed and maneuverability make them difficult to identify and counter with missiles.
In response, Japan has been developing an electromagnetic "railgun" technology to target such weapons.
"We need to pursue all available means, including cooperation with the U.S., to strengthen comprehensive missile defense capabilities," noted Japanese defense minister Nobuo Kishi.
Get a daily dose of Arab Herald news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Arab Herald.
More InformationKabul [Afghanistan], August 11 (ANI): Amid the growing outcry over the women's rights situation in Afghanistan, a top Taliban official ...
Koppal (Karnataka) [India], August 11 (ANI): Two people died and six others were injured after a clash broke out between ...
With a long list of crimes punishable by death, Iran put at least 314 prisoners to death last year, second ...
The EU member-state's parliament says the move is a response to Moscow's ?violence? in UkraineLatvia's parliament, the Saeima, designated Russia ...
International politics is largely about applying double standards, Josep Borrell acknowledgedThe EU's foreign-policy chief Josep Borrel has admitted that double ...
New York [US], August 11 (ANI): The Human Rights Watch (HRW) on Thursday said the Taliban have broken multiple pledges ...
Israel has launched an unprovoked war against the Palestinian resistance group Islamic Jihad. The Israeli army assassinated a high-ranking commander ...
ACCRA, 11th August, 2022 (WAM) -- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana, received Amer Al Alawi, ...
ABU DHABI, 11th August, 2022 (WAM) -- Dr. Matar Hamed Al Neyadi, UAE Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, met ...
ABU DHABI, 11th August, 2022 (WAM) -- A new generation of the Emirati passports will be issued from 1st of ...
New Delhi [India], August 11 (ANI): Star Indian batter Virat Kohli has started practicing for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. ...
ATHENS - Greek authorities say a search and rescue operation is ongoing for a second day for dozens of migrants ...