Japan's Kishida Warns of Russia-North Korea-China Axis, Seeks Deeper NATO Ties

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has expressed concerns about Russia's growing ties with North Korea and China, viewing them as a threat to the West and its allies. Ahead of his visit to a NATO summit in the US, Kishida urged the global community to resist attempts by Russia and its allies to disrupt the established international order.

Kishida specifically highlighted Russia's deepening military cooperation with North Korea as a cause for concern, drawing parallels to the current situation in Ukraine. He emphasized the interconnectedness of security between the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions, stating that "Japan is determined to strengthen its cooperation with NATO and its partners."

While not explicitly naming China, Kishida alluded to other countries bolstering the alleged Russian threat by supplying dual-use goods with potential military applications. This echoes accusations frequently leveled by Western leaders against Beijing, which China consistently denies. Kishida called for a united front against "international actors fueling Russia's attempt to change the status quo by force."

Tokyo has adopted a firm stance on the Ukraine conflict, aligning itself with NATO. The alliance has expressed concerns that a Russian victory in Ukraine could embolden Moscow to target NATO members.

Moscow has dismissed these claims as "complete nonsense" and defended its ties with Asian partners as normal international relations. Russian President Vladimir Putin has stressed that the country's cooperation with China, in particular, is not directed against anyone and serves as a stabilizing factor on the international stage, focusing on the interests of both nations.

However, Russia has frequently criticized Western efforts to expand global influence, citing NATO's eastward expansion and interest in Ukraine as key factors behind its military operation launched in February 2022. During a visit to Vietnam, Putin expressed concerns about NATO's growing focus on the Asia-Pacific region and attempts to establish a bloc system, viewing it as a security threat to Russia and Asian countries. He stated that NATO's actions necessitate a response from Russia.