Japanese Foreign Minister: "Ukraine War Crisis Is Not Just a European Issue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Nahum] On the 19th (local time), Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa stated at the Group of Seven (G7) Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Munich, Germany, that the situation in Ukraine "is not limited to Europe's security issues," according to Japanese media such as Kyodo News and Sankei Shimbun.

According to reports, Foreign Minister Hayashi said, "The situation in Ukraine concerns the fundamental principle of the international community that does not recognize unilateral changes by force."

Kyodo News interpreted Hayashi's remarks as "likely referring to China's intrusion into the territorial waters of the Senkaku Islands (Chinese name Diaoyu Islands) and military pressure on Taiwan."

Asahi Shimbun also diagnosed that "what the Japanese government has in mind is China's presence, which is increasing military pressure in the Taiwan Strait and the East China Sea."

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained Hayashi's remarks during the G7 meeting as "meaning to convey that concerns about the Ukraine crisis are not limited to Europe," Asahi Shimbun reported.

After the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Foreign Minister Hayashi told reporters, "We confirmed that invading Ukraine would result in enormous costs, including sanctions against Russia," and regarding Japan's response, he stated, "We will respond appropriately according to the actual situation, including imposing sanctions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.