All news

Japan concerned over China’s military activities, cooperation with Russia – statement

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also noted the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and strongly called for the early release of Japanese detained on suspicion of spying

TOKYO, November 25. /TASS/. Japan is seriously concerned over China’s intensified military activities, including the cooperation between Beijing and Moscow, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said during the talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi.

"The Minister expressed a serious concern over the situation in the East China Sea, including the [contested] Senkaku Islands and the intensified Chinese military activity near Japan, including in cooperation with Russia," says the statement, published by the Foreign Ministry of Japan.

The situation around North Korea, including the abduction of Japanese citizens, became another topic of discussion.

In addition, Kamikawa "noted the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and decisively called for the release of detained [on suspicion of espionage] Japanese citizens." The sides "agreed to promptly have a Japanese-Chinese dialogue on security in order to strengthen the cooperation in this area."

The Japanese Minister called on the Chinese side to immediately withdraw the restrictions on food import from Japan, imposed over the discharge of water from the Fukushima-1 Nuclear Power Plant. The sides acknowledged that "there is a gap between the two states’ position on this issue, and agreed to find a way to resolve this issue via consultations and dialogue in a constructive key."

The two ministers agreed to continue contacts at all levels and exchanged invitations to their countries. They also discussed global problems and agreed to intensive the cooperation on climate change policy and international healthcare, including combating infectious diseases. They also agreed to develop bilateral cooperation, including on "green" economy, ecology and energy saving.