Russia’s possible attack on Ukraine is also a concern for Asian countries.
JapanSouth Korean and U.S. foreign ministers condemned North Korea’s recent missile tests in a statement issued on Saturday.
According to foreign ministers, North Korea “must stop its illegal activities and start a dialogue instead.”
They reiterated their commitment to nuclear disarmament throughout the Korean Peninsula and their readiness to continue negotiations with North Korea. North Korea has not responded to last year’s initiatives by US President Joe Biden’s administration.
North Korea conducted seven missile tests in January.
Opportunity Russia’s attack on Ukraine was also reflected in Honolulu’s tripartite talks. The war would cause economic disruption that could reach Asia. Japan has already been asked to allow part of its liquefied natural gas supplies to be diverted to Europe in the event of a disruption of Russian natural gas supplies to Europe.
At a meeting in Honolulu, ministers also discussed the challenge posed by China.
Earlier this week, the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attended a meeting in Melbourne, where an alliance of Australia, Japan, India and the United States considered how to curb China’s growth-oriented military strategy in the Asia-Pacific region.
The countries are seeking to deepen their cooperation by extending it from the initial Malabar naval exercises and the distribution of corona vaccines to other areas, such as climate change, cyber security, infrastructure and disaster relief. They also emphasized their readiness to work with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Blinken also attended a virtual meeting in Fiji with a representative of 17 Pacific island states influenced by China’s economic, political and military goals.
There, he said the U.S. is willing to spend more money to support the Pacific islands, and said it will return the U.S. embassy to Solomon Islands, where China has interfered in politics and local security.
The United States closed its embassy in Solomon Islands in 1993, and reopening it would serve as an assurance that the United States will pay more attention to an area that is often overlooked.
Jonathan Pryke of the Australian incubator Lowy Institute describes Blinken’s visit to Fiji as “quite significant.” According to him, it is a reflection that the United States not only has a significant presence in the Pacific, but is clearly concerned about China’s growing presence in the region.
Of the week during the long journey, the White House released a strategy in which it emphasized the central role of the Asia-Pacific region in U.S. politics.
“The strategy reflects the fundamental truth that, more than anywhere else in the world, what is happening in this region is going to shape the lives of Americans and people around the world,” Blinken said.
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