German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has praised the strength of ties with Japan and underscored the importance of strategic partnership. He also called out China for being “increasingly aggressive.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul began his first trip in office to Japan by praising his host country as Berlin’s “premium partner” in Asia, noting that Tokyo and Berlin share a “longstanding, deep and close friendship.”
Wadephul, speaking alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, called democracy and adherence to the rule of law shared values, something he said was important in “a time of crises and conflict.”
Wadephul, speaking alongside Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, called democracy and adherence to the rule of law shared values, something he said was important in “a time of crises and conflict.”
Wadephul pointed to Ukraine, Gaza and Iran to “highlight that closer cooperation among friends and natural allies is becoming increasingly essential.”
The Japanese foreign minister also underscored the importance of a close partnership between the G7 members — both leading economies in Europe and Asia — in the face of threats to the established international order.
Wadephul calls out ‘aggressive’ China
Wadephul was unambiguous about the source of the threat to democracy and rule of law in the region, railing against repeated Chinese threats to “unilaterally change borders” in the Asia-Pacific.
“China repeatedly threatens, more or less openly, to unilaterally change the status quo and shift borders in its favor,” Wadephul said.
The German minister chided China’s “increasingly aggressive” behavior in the Taiwan Strait and the East and South China seas.
“Any escalation in this sensitive hub of international trade,” he said on Monday, “would have serious consequences for global security and the world economy.”
The “fundamental principles of our global coexistence,” he added, “are at stake here.”
Wadephul: China enabling Russian war in Ukraine
Lastly, Wadephul criticized “China’s support for the Russian war machine” and PresidentVladimir Putin’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The German foreign minister cited Beijing’s unique role in the conflict, saying: “Without it, the war of aggression against Ukraine would not be possible. China is Russia’s largest supplier of dual-use goods and Russia’s best oil and gas customer. Russia’s war in Ukraine is only made possible by China.”
Wadephul is scheduled to deliver a speech at a Japanese peace foundation and meet Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and government economic ministers before continuing on to Indonesia.
Edited by Sean Sinico
DW News
