China and Russia increasing military cooperation: Japan’s foreign minister

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Saturday expressed concern over cooperation between Russian and Chinese militaries in Asia, saying Europe’s security situation cannot be separated from the Indo-Pacific in the wake of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. At a meeting of foreign ministers of European and Indo-Pacific countries in Sweden, Hayashi said the war in Ukraine has shaken the foundations of the international order and the international community must respond together. “Otherwise, similar challenges will emerge from other areas as well and this could shake the very foundation of the system on which our peace and prosperity rests,” he said.

Japan supports Ukraine in the war, while China has said it will remain neutral and has blamed the US and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) for provoking the conflict. Hayashi accused Beijing of continuing to try to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas by using force and ramping up its military activities around Taiwan. Hayashi also warned that North Korea is fueling tensions in the region by testing ballistic missiles. The meeting was attended by several foreign ministers from the European Union and the countries of the Indian Pacific region.

China was not invited in this. Some countries in the Indo-Pacific, such as India and Pakistan, have called for an end to the war in Ukraine but have not condemned Russia for it. Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Heena Rabbani Khar said, “We are all trying to solve it in our own different ways.” “I think a country like Pakistan has learned a lesson that conflict is never the solution. We want an end to hostilities, an end to conflict, so that instead of destroying the lives of others, people can work to build lives.

Disclaimer:Prabhasakshi has not edited this news. This news has been published from PTI-language feed.