Japan, Italy Agree to Strengthen Defense Cooperation Amid China Threat

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attends a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 16, 2022. (David Mareuil/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Japan and Italy on Tuesday agreed to strengthen their bilateral cooperation in the areas of security and economy amid growing concerns over the security challenges posed by the Chinese Communist regime.

Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, in Italy on Tuesday as part of his weeklong tour of G-7 nations that includes France, Britain, Canada, and the United States.

Both sides agreed to elevate their bilateral relations to “the level of a strategic partnership,” which would entail a mechanism for bilateral consultations on foreign policy and defense, Meloni told reporters.

The two leaders opposed attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo through the use of force in the East and South China Seas, according to Japan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Kishida also emphasized the need to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait while expressing concern about North Korea’s illegal nuclear and missile development program, the ministry said.

Combat Air Capabilities

Japan, Britain, and Italy announced last month the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to jointly develop next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035, which will combine the British-led Tempest project with Japan’s F-X fighter program.

According to a joint statement by the leaders of the three nations, the GCAP will help deepen the countries’ cooperation in defense, technology, and supply chains, while also strengthening their defense industrial base.

“The programme will support the sovereign capability of all three countries to design, deliver, and upgrade cutting-edge combat air capabilities, well into the future,” the statement reads.

The statement provides few specifics about the fighter aircraft but cites the program’s “future interoperability” with the United States, NATO, and other partners across Europe and the Indo–Pacific.

Japan-France Meeting

Prior to his meeting in Italy, Kishida met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris on Monday and expressed Japan’s intention to enhance joint military drills with France.

“As unilateral attempts to change by force the status quo in the East and South China Sea intensify and the security environment becomes increasingly tense, we wish to continue to cooperate with France,” Kishida said.

Both leaders also vowed to enhance bilateral cooperation, including in the fields of nuclear and renewable energy, car manufacturing, and defense.

Kishida will hold talks with President Joe Biden in Washington on Jan. 13. The two leaders are expected to discuss regional and global issues, including North Korea’s unlawful missile programs, Russia’s war against Ukraine, and China’s tensions with Taiwan.

Japan approved three key defense documents in December, including the National Security Strategy, which refers to China as Japan’s “greatest challenge.” Japan seeks to have the ability to counterattack, a move widely seen as a departure from the nation’s post-war constitution.

Reuters contributed to this report.