Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi said he and the commander of U.S. Forces Japan met Thursday and shared concerns over China's expanding maritime activities in the East and South China seas.
During their talks at Yokota Air Base, the location of the headquarters of U.S. Forces Japan, Kishi and Lt. Gen. Kevin Schneider also confirmed continued bilateral cooperation to counter North Korea's military threat.
"During the discussion, the two reiterated the critical importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance to maintaining peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region," U.S. Forces Japan said in a statement.