Japan is keeping a close eye on China's behavior concerning Pacific island nations, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday after meeting with his Tuvalu counterpart.
The recent signing of a security agreement between China and the Solomon Islands has sparked regional concerns about Beijing's outreach, as the agreement reportedly enables Chinese troops to be deployed to the Pacific nation.
"We exchanged views on recent developments concerning China in the Pacific island region," Kishida told reporters in Kumamoto Prefecture, without giving further details.