US and Japan Reaffirm Commitment to North Korea Denuclearization...Check on China (Comprehensive)

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] The top diplomats and defense officials of the United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the denuclearization of North Korea. They also reiterated that the Senkaku Islands, a territory disputed between China and Japan, fall under the security treaty.

On the 16th, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin held the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee meeting, commonly known as the 2+2 talks, with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu and Defense Minister Kishi Nobuo. After the meeting, they held a joint press conference and stated, "We recognize that North Korea's military capabilities pose a threat to international peace and stability."

In their joint statement, they reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea and urged North Korea to comply with its obligations under United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also confirmed the urgent need to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees. The two countries emphasized that "trilateral cooperation among the United States, Japan, and South Korea is crucial for the security, peace, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region."

Furthermore, they reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. Japan pledged to strengthen its defense capabilities and further enhance the U.S.-Japan alliance, while the United States emphasized its commitment to supporting Japan's defense through all capabilities, including nuclear. They promised to promote the relevant international order for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Notably, the statement specified, "China's actions, which are inconsistent with the existing international order, pose political, economic, military, and technological challenges to the alliance and the international community." The U.S. and Japanese foreign and defense ministers pledged to oppose China's coercive and destabilizing behavior. They also expressed serious concerns regarding China's Coast Guard Law (which authorizes the use of weapons by the Chinese Coast Guard) and reiterated that the Senkaku Islands are included under Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.