Japan, France Agree to Accelerate Talks for Defense Cooperation
10:51 JST, May 11, 2023
TOKYO (Jiji Press) — The Japanese and French governments have agreed to accelerate working-level talks to enhance their diplomatic and defense cooperation further.
The two sides will consider concluding a bilateral reciprocal access agreement to allow the Japanese Self-Defense Forces and the French military to conduct joint exercises smoothly.
Japan and France reached the consensus on Tuesday at a so-called two-plus-two meeting of their foreign and defense ministers held online. It was attended by Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada as well as French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna and Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu.
It was the seventh two-plus-two meeting between the two countries and the first since January last year.
In a joint statement issued after the day’s meeting, the ministers said that they reaffirmed their opposition to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo, apparently with China in mind.
The statement referred to the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, saying that there is no change in the basic stances of Japan and France with regard to Taiwan.
"Politics" POPULAR ARTICLE
-
Ishiba: Asian NATO Must Consider Introduction of N-Weapons, Japan-U.S. Treaty Should Be Pact Between ‘Ordinary Nations’
-
Japan Scrambles Fighter Aircraft After Russia Violates Airspace
-
Shigeru Ishiba Elected Japan LDP President; Poised to be New Prime Minister
-
Japan’s New Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba Forms Cabinet, Announces to Dissolve Lower House on Oct. 9
-
Ishiba Elected President of Japan’s Ruling Party, Beats Takaichi in LDP Runoff
JN ACCESS RANKING
- Harris Widens Lead over Trump to 47%-40%, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds
- Japan-S. Korea Exchange Festival Held in Seoul
- Japan Trying to Draw Digital Nomads, Who Are Seen as Beneficial to Economy, Society
- JICA Employee Suspected of Leaking Info on ODA Project in Manila; Bidding for Railway Renovation May Have Been Impacted
- Asukayama Monorail in Tokyo: Free to Ride!