Japan-France increase joint exercises

Japan and France step up joint military exercises to respond to challenges from China. (Source: Kyodo)

On June 22, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and his French counterpart Catherine Colonna reaffirmed joint efforts, including joint exercises between the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the French military.

On the Russia-Ukraine issue, Mr. Hayashi and Ms. Colonna affirmed that Tokyo and Paris will maintain tough sanctions against Moscow.

The two sides also agreed to establish a working group to address economic security issues.

However, the two sides did not mention the proposal to establish a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) office in Tokyo to address security threats in Asia.

France is even said to be the country that opposes the plan to open a NATO office in Tokyo.

Specifically, in early June, President Emmanuel Macron opposed the establishment of NATO's first office in Asia due to concerns that the move could cause tension between China and the military alliance.

Furthermore, he also had a controversial reaction when he stated in an interview in April that Europe should not follow the US or China, while warning NATO not to expand its scope of operations beyond the North Atlantic.