Japan is considering hosting separate talks with the Philippines and India next month involving their respective foreign and defense ministers to beef up security ties amid China's growing maritime assertiveness, diplomatic sources said Wednesday.
Arrangements are being made for Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi to host "two-plus-two" meetings with their Philippines counterparts in early April, and their Indian counterparts in mid-April, according to the sources.
The talks are being planned as Russia's invasion of Ukraine spurs concern that China could be emboldened to further intensify its military activities in the Indo-Pacific region, and as North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile launch last week has increased its nuclear threat.