Rajnath Singh meets Japanese counterpart in Tokyo to bolster defence ties

TOKYO, Sept 8: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday, September 8, 2022, met with his
Japanese counterpart Yasukazu Hamada and said the bilateral special strategic and global
partnership between the two countries plays a crucial role in ensuring a free, open and rules-based
Indo-Pacific region.
Mr. Singh, who is on the last leg of his five-day visit to Mongolia and Japan, met Mr. Hamada, Japan's
Minister of Defence here.
“Reviewed various aspects of bilateral defence cooperation and regional affairs during the bilateral
meeting with Japan's Minister of Defence, Mr. Yasukazu Hamada in Tokyo today. This year marks 70
years of diplomatic relations between the two countries,” Mr. Singh tweeted.
“India and Japan pursue a Special Strategic and Global Partnership. India's defence partnership with
Japan will play a crucial role in ensuring a free, open and rules-based Indo Pacific region,” he
tweeted.
India, the United States and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure
a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the
region.
China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei,
Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations
in the South China Sea.
In Japan, Mr. Singh and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will join their Japanese counterparts at
the ‘2+2' Foreign and Defence Ministerial dialogue.
The ‘2+2' dialogue is taking place more than five months after Japanese Prime Minister Fumio
Kishida visited India for the annual India-Japan summit. (AGENCIES)