China reacted to the announcement by warning that the move could harm regional peace and stability.
Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Wednesday that Tokyo is in talks to open a liaison office with NATO, the first of its kind in Asia, CNN reports.
«we are already in talksbut the details have not been finalized yet,” Hayashi said in an interview with the outlet, explaining that Japan is not a member of the Atlantic Alliance, but the step sends a message that allies in the Asia-Pacific region are ” very constantly engaged” with it.
For his part, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed the statements that same day in an interview with CNN, in which he stated that “Japan is a very close and important partner for the alliance«.
The announcement comes a week after NATO’s plans were revealed regarding the opening of a communications office in the Japanese country next year in order to increase cooperation with its allies through regular consultations with ” key regional partners» such as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
It is noted that the idea of opening an office was first discussed during Stoltenberg’s visit to Tokyo in January, in his meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
“Asia is not a fighting ground”
Beijing’s reaction was swift and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning warned about the expansion of the Atlantic Alliance, stating that the move could harm regional peace and stability.
«Asia is an anchor for peace and stability and a promising land for cooperation and development, not a wrestling arena for geopolitical competition. NATO’s continued eastward foray into the Asia-Pacific and interference in regional affairs will inevitably undermine regional peace and stability and fuel bloc confrontation. This calls for high vigilance among regional countries,” Mao declared.