Japan’s Kishida says he will attend NATO leaders’ summit, stresses need for dialogue with China

Describing the current security environment of the global community as “the most severe and complex” of the postwar era, Kishida vowed to “fully utilise diplomatic tools” to contribute to the peace and stability of the global community while serving Japan’s national interest.

Kishida said Japan will cooperate with the United States on China policy, while encouraging Beijing to fulfil its responsibility as a global power to observe international rules and order.

Japan is increasingly concerned about China’s coercive activity in the region, especially around Japanese-controlled disputed East China Sea islands that Beijing also claims.

“It is important to continue making effort to have close dialogue at all levels, including myself, and in that process I will consider my possible visit to China, though nothing has been decided right now,” Kishida said.

His comment comes on the heels of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s meeting earlier this week with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, where they agreed to stabilise their countries’ deteriorated ties but fell short of resuming military-to-military contacts aimed at avoiding mishaps and conflict over Taiwan.

Kishida also stressed the importance of dialogue with North Korea, and reiterated that he is stepping up his effort toward achieving a possible summit with leader Kim Jong Un on the decades-old issue of abductions of Japanese nationals by Pyongyang.

The issue was only partially resolved and North Korea has never provided a full account for those still believed to be held.

With many families of the abductees growing older, resolving the problem has become an increasingly urgent human rights issue, Kishida said.