“Vietnam welcomes Japan, a global power, to continue to actively contribute to regional and global peace, stability and prosperity,” Phuc said. In a speech later Monday, Suga said Japan opposed any steps to heighten tensions in the South China Sea, where Vietnam and other ASEAN members have territorial disputes with China. Back in Tokyo, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi told reporters that Japan’s Maritime Self-Defence Force will conduct a joint drill with U.S. and Australian navies around the South China Sea on Monday, Kyodo news agency reported. Supply chain diversityJapan must balance its deep economic ties to China with security concerns, including Beijing’s claims over disputed isles in the East China Sea. “We agreed on restarting ‘business track’ travel as well as passenger flights between the two countries today,” Suga told the joint media event.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer October 19, 2020 11:37 UTC