politics

Kishida says he will attend NATO leaders' summit; stresses need for dialogue with China

31 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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31 Comments
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Mr Irrelevant still irrelevant

-11 ( +9 / -20 )

So, he is just going to barge in uninvited? Really now, there is plenty enough going on in this part of the world that you should be focusing on. Oh, right, the Diet is out of session, so this is your chance to try to get the people to think you are a diplomat now! My bad...

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

He will get a new job as Asian head of NATO in his new NATO office in Tokyo. A private jet as well as a generous expense account.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

It make sound strategic, tactical, economic sense.

Link arms...

Kishida stressed the importance of dialogue with China in order to develop “constructive and stable” relationship with Beijing while his country cooperates with its key ally, the United States. He said the state of U.S.-China relations are crucial to international peace and stability.

PM Kishida, it is time to refrain from diplomatic niceties, and to fully accept that The Government of China are a belligerent malevolent force.

Future questions, whether to adopt a tactical, strategic independent nuclear deterrent are upon the people of Japan.

So take the steps to ask the unthinkable.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

As an important member of NATO West, he should be there.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

"Kishida stressed the importance of dialog with China...." So going to Lithuania is dialog with China? Blinken met with Xi in China, Sholz of Germany met Xi late last year, Macron and Ursula von der Leyen visited China earlier this year, as did Spain's PM Pérez-Castejón. I think it's time for Kishida to visit China and walk the talk. Get so tired of this clown's obsession with his image of a diplomat.

8 ( +11 / -3 )

The free world, human rights, the very definition....

These include the right to life and liberty, freedom from slavery and torture, freedom of opinion and expression, the right to work and education, the right to equality and dignity, and to live free from all forms of discrimination.

Now, the Government of China despises the very basic notion of the underlining recognitions of human rights.

The world shipping lanes the the Straits of Taiwan, the South China Sea will define the hegemony that Chinese President Xi Jinping is demanding with threats of Armageddon.

So call him out, as we did with the Nazi dictator of Germany.

Ok JT that is imfatory

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Inflammatory....sorry.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

"Dialog" doesn't cost either side anything. It's the least they can do. Negotiation, on the other hand, would require serious investment. Fortunately, there are many things Japan and China want from each other. It would be good for each country to articulate their priorities. My guess would be that both countries value: Security Economy Human Rights.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

If Japan wants to fully contribute to peace and stability in the region it's gonna take more than flimsy sidestepping and dithering dialogue - it's gonna take action and not more weapons and sanctions .

Sanctions are to oppose an already aggressive neighbor, no dialogue necessary there. More weapons are necessary due to the arms buildup by china and north Korea and the aggressor to the north. Talk is always better than fighting but best to be prepared for the latter, just in case.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

The host nation, Lithuania, is currently very anti-China and has some role in setting the agenda and final declaration. Someone is MOFA is smart enough to realize this. I'm not sure anyone in the LDP cares at this point. The LDP pro-China lobby is either muzzled or none existent. Keidanren is certainly muzzled.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Why will non-NATO member Japan's prime minister have to attend a NATO meeting? Japan is not a NATO member by any means, but virtually it is.

There may be a lot of reasons for this. The U.S. can no longer deal with an issue involving assertive China all alone, and so it's asking NATO for help. That means the U.S.'s hegemonic power in this region is declining before rising China.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

voiceofokinawaToday  09:07 am JST

Why will non-NATO member Japan's prime minister have to attend a NATO meeting? Japan is not a NATO member by any means, but virtually it is.

Because he was invited. And it is in Japan's best interest to do so. Japan has been tied to NATO since 2017.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

somebody say to him that we have US nuclear umbrella here in Japan,also we are paying dearly from our taxes to US army for protection while still have some 200.000 people employed in JSDF.

NATO dont need at all.stop panicking and warmongering.

we can sleep well and be not afraid at all of China,Russia,DPRK or even ... Nauru.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Kishida says he will attend NATO leaders' summit

for what?

to take pictures with more important leaders and grin like an idiot?

might as well. He's wasted enough of our tax money for his "travels," might as well use up the rest.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Discussion is good. Nobody wants to push anybody around, just China, Russia and their partners.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

If he continues to echo the American/2 face like the American, Not much chance of any dialogue with China happening. China is still talking to America because America is so so consequential/important, than him.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

OssanAmerica (and perhaps What ol' Jack Burton always says):

Kishida will attend a NATO meeting because he was invited? You may be right as far as that is concerned. He will attend it because he was invited.  

The fundamental question, however, is: Why will he attend the meeting, in no regard to being invited or not.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Since when is Japan in the North Atlantic? This is ridiculous!

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

Donald SeekinsToday  01:34 pm JST

Since when is Japan in the North Atlantic? This is ridiculous!

NATO has been in Afghanistan from 2001 to 2021. Afghanistan is not in the North Atlantic.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to attend a NATO leaders' summit.

Fumio Kishida has chosen to accept the invitation.

Nato countries wish to listen, take on board Fumio Kishida governments regional concernment, also to offer unity and solidarity, nothing to be overly troubled about.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

NATO is really a misnomer. It includes not only North Atlantic European countries but also  Mediterranean countries like Italy, Greece, Turkey and non-European countries like Canada and the U.S. Such former Soviet bloc countries as Albania, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Romania and Poland have also become members of it.

Established in 1949 at the initiative of the U.S. to confront the Soviet Union, it now seems to be trying to expand its sphere of influence further into the Indo-Pacific regions. Is NATO a wolf in a sheep skin trying to make all the world to toe its line as to cultural, political norms and all?

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Established in 1949 at the initiative of the U.S. to confront the Soviet Union, it now seems to be trying to expand its sphere of influence further into the Indo-Pacific regions. Is NATO a wolf in a sheep skin trying to make all the world to toe its line as to cultural, political norms and all?

No, but it is trying to keep the dictatorship axis of 1.5 billion people and spanning two continents within their borders.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

@What ol' Jack Burton always saysToday 09:51 am JST

As an important member of NATO West, he should be there.

FYI @taiwanisnotchina Japan is not a NATO member.

Yes... I know that... Not too good on understanding sarcasm, eh?

3 ( +4 / -1 )

There is nothing much to see here. 

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will attend and return.

However the situation, the constant heckling, booing, yes bullying from the governments of China, North Korea the fake missile testes, Russian continued threats are now common place.

NATO is a treaty organization.

The North Atlantic Treaty

Read it .....

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/official_texts_17120.htm

What do you think it means today right now?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Please as commentators we can openly debate as long as we don't attack each other, we can huff and puff at will.

So please state, lets openly have a debate on the dictatorships of China, Russia and North Korea.

This invitation for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in all honesty will not make the world a safer place.

However his attendance will strengthen J opinion.

One way or another

3 ( +4 / -1 )

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