(Press Release: Provisional Translation)
September 13, 2024
Ministry of Defense Japan
On September 13, commencing at 14:10 for approximately 50 minutes, Minister KIHARA held a Defense Ministerial Meeting with Minister of National Defense of Canada, the Hon. Bill Blair,
- At the outset, Minster Kihara welcomed Minister Blair’s visit to Japan, and stated his honor for meeting soon again in Tokyo since last June at Singapore where both ministers had a Ministerial Meeting.
- The two ministers exchanged views on the regional security situation and the defense policies. Minister Kihara expressed strong concerns over the launch of ballistic missiles by North Korea in the morning on 12th Sep., China’s intensifying military activities around Japan, and in particular, towards the recent intrusion of Japanese territorial airspace. The two ministers shared the view to further strengthen cooperation against unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion.
- The Ministers shared the recognition that it is very important to have opportunities for active dialogue and exchanges as Japan-Canada have common regional and security concerns, including Indo-Pacific and the Arctic Circle, and they welcomed that Japan-Canada defense cooperation and exchanges have deepened further in recent years.
- The Ministers concurred to carry on their close cooperation through the G7 framework, given Canada’s G7 presidency next year.
- The Ministers concurred to continue to work closely together towards further deepening Japan-Canada defense cooperation and exchanges.
