Japan, France to hold ‘2 plus 2’ security talks amid concerns over China’s growing Indo-Pacific influence

Tokyo and Paris both have strategic interests in region including the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands and New Caledonia

Analyst says talks send signal to Beijing that ‘like-minded countries are coming together, coordinating, for the stability of the region’

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Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi during a press conference on Tuesday. He is one of four ministers, two from Japan and two from France, who will take part in “2 plus 2” talks between the two countries on security in the Indo-Pacific region. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 5:01pm, 19 Jan 2022Updated: 6:54pm, 19 Jan 2022

Japan and France are expected to discuss a defence cooperation agreement amid shared concerns about China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific, when their foreign and defence ministers hold a “2 plus 2” virtual meeting on Thursday.

Kyodo News Agency reported that the agreement is aimed at easing restrictions on the transport of weapons and supplies for joint training and disaster relief operations.

The last “2 plus 2” talks – meaning dialogue involving two ministers from each country – were in January 2019, with a session last year postponed amid the pandemic.

The talks come as Japan, a security ally of the United States and member of the US-led Quad security alliance that also includes Australia and India, expands military ties with several other countries.

Then Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga bows before leaving the US in September. During his trip he took part in a “Quad” summit meeting with leaders of the United States, Australia and India. Photo: Kyodo

In November the German navy frigate Bayern docked in Japan, the first by a German warship in two decades, and conducted exercises in waters off Tokyo with vessels and aircraft from Japan’s Maritime Self-defence Force.

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Japan, France to hold ‘2 plus 2’ security talks amid concerns over China’s growing Indo-Pacific influence

Tokyo and Paris both have strategic interests in region including the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands and New Caledonia Analyst says talks send signal to Beijing that ‘like-minded countries are coming together, coordinating, for the stability of the region’

Tokyo and Paris both have strategic interests in region including the Diaoyu/Senkaku Islands and New Caledonia

Analyst says talks send signal to Beijing that ‘like-minded countries are coming together, coordinating, for the stability of the region’