The Daily Manila Shimbun

 

Japan, US to hold 2-plus-2 security talks July 13-14

June 2, 2017

WASHINGTON- The United States and Japan are expected to hold security talks among their foreign and defense ministers in Washington July 13-14, the first such "two-plus-two" meeting since US President Donald Trump took office in January, US government officials told Jiji Press on Thursday.
Major topics will include North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs, the fight against terrorism and the Middle East situation including the Syrian civil war, the officials said.
The participants will be Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada from Japan, and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Secretary of Defense James Mattis from the United States.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Trump agreed to hold the two-plus-two session at an early date when they held one-on-one talks on the fringe of the Group of Seven summit in Taormina, Italy, late last month.
At the July meeting, the Japanese and US ministers are expected to discuss measures to strengthen Japan's missile defense posture, including the possible introduction of a ground-based Aegis system, following a series of ballistic missile tests by North Korea, the sources said.
They are also seen exchanging views on issues in the South China Sea, where the US military conducted Freedom of Navigation operations in May, and the situation in the East China Sea, the sources said.
The US side appears eager to strengthen its cooperation with Japan on global security issues, including operations against the Islamic State militant group. (Jiji Press)

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