Tokyo: After a day earlier alerting American troops close to Tokyo of the threat posed by China, American Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Tuesday ( Dec 10 ).
As the key supporters work together to create a new time influenced by US President-elect Donald Trump’s” America First” plans, Austin will meet with Ishiba and subsequently his Chinese counterpart Gen Nakatani on what is likely his final standard vacation there.
In a statement aboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, which is stationed off Yokosuka, north of Tokyo, on Monday, the Pentagon general spoke about the danger posed by China.
” The PRC is the only country in the world that has the intention and, significantly, the capability to alter the rules-based global order”, he said, using the letters of its full title, the People’s Republic of China.
We want to see this place, which is available to freedom of navigation and the ability to travel the skies and use international airlines whenever we want, Austin said.
” We’re going to work with our allies and partners to make sure that we can do that as well,” he said.
Around 54, 000 US military officers are stationed in Japan, mainly in Okinawa, south of Taiwan. Since Monday, more military exercise around the self-ruled area has fueled rumors about training by China, which claims Taiwan as its territory.
Austin even discussed Syria’s condition, which is under the control of Islamist rebels, and Bashar al-Assad’s ouster after years of brutal rule.
” As this unfolds, there’s a potential that elements in the area, such as ( Islamic State ), could try to take advantage of this opportunity and regain capability”, Austin said, in comments echoed by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
Austin’s trip to Japan is his 13th attend to the Asia-Pacific place as defence minister, according to the Pentagon.