Japan, Germany to Deepen Security Cooperation Amid Russia-Ukraine War

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shake hands before their bilateral summit in Tokyo, Japan on April 28, 2022. (Yoshikazu Tsuno/Getty Images)

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visiting German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed Thursday to establish an intergovernmental panel to boost their security cooperation amid the Russia-Ukraine war.

In a joint press conference, Kishida said that both leaders reaffirmed their intention to hold intergovernmental consultations and work closely together to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific.

“Today we agreed to set up intergovernmental consultations with the participation of the heads of government. The first consultation is envisaged for next year,” he remarked.

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Scholz’s two-day trip to Japan is his first to an Asian country since becoming chancellor of Germany last December. He said the trip was a “clear political signal” that Germany and the European Union would intensify engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

“We want to intensify the German-Japanese partnership. That works with the 2+2 talks that we have already established. But we also want to have regular government consultations with each other,” he said.

The two leaders opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China seas, where Beijing has increased its military presence, and urged the international community to “respond decisively” to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

They pledged to increase support for Ukraine and continue to impose “unprecedentedly tough sanctions” on Russia, which Scholz said have caused “significant damage” to Moscow’s economic development.

Japan and Germany are also aiming to reduce reliance on Russian coal imports. Kishida said that Japan will seek alternatives to diversify the country’s energy sources, but added that his government must first examine the impact on the industry.

“We will do everything we can to ensure that nobody is dependent on supply chains from one country at a time. That is the experience we have now had with the Russia-Ukraine crisis. It will take time but will have to play a big role for us,” Scholz said.

The Russia-Ukraine war has highlighted Germany’s energy reliance on Russia and is spurring Berlin to take security more into account in its foreign and trade policy and to strengthen ties with allies.

Scholz’s visit to Japan comes on the same day that the German lower house of parliament passed a motion in support of Ukraine that included a clause calling on his government to threaten China with sanctions if it seeks to circumvent Western restrictions on Russia or deliver weapons.

Reuters contributed to this report.