Koji Domita, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States, announced on the 9th (local time) that he is pushing for the establishment of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) liaison office in Tokyo.
According to major foreign media, Ambassador Domita stated at a briefing for the G7 Hiroshima Summit held at the National Press Club in Washington DC on the same day, "I understand that discussions are underway on ways to strengthen our partnership with NATO," adding, "I have not heard that a final decision has been made, but we are cooperating in that direction."
Earlier, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported on the 3rd that NATO plans to open its first liaison office in Asia next year in Tokyo to respond to threats from China and Russia and to strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific countries.
Although NATO and the Japanese government have not officially responded to the report, Ambassador Domita's remarks on this day confirmed the push to establish the liaison office.
Currently, NATO liaison offices have been established in Ukraine and Georgia, among others. The office to be opened in Tokyo is expected to serve as a hub for NATO partner countries in the Asia-Pacific region, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia.
Earlier, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited Japan in January and met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, mentioning Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's military buildup, and pledged to strengthen ties to meet security challenges.
After the Nihon Keizai report, China expressed concerns, stating, "Do not turn Asia into a geopolitical battlefield," and warned that high vigilance is necessary in the face of NATO's eastward expansion.
Meanwhile, major foreign media reported that Ambassador Domita will seek ways to more closely coordinate the G7's approach to China at the G7 Summit scheduled for the 19th to 21st.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
