Foreign and defence ministers of Japan and France meet for 2+2
The foreign and defence ministers of Japan and France will hold a 2+2 security dialogue in Paris today.
Last year’s dialogue focused upon settling regional crises, protecting an international maritime order based on law, international development cooperation and combating all forms of protectionism, among other things. No agenda has been publicised for today’s talks, however, expect the meeting to deepen an already healthy economic and security relationship.
Japan has recently been increasing investment in infrastructure in the Asia-Pacific region as part of an international effort to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Such infrastructure projects may be a substantial dialogue topic, building upon previous discussions concerning international development cooperation – Japan is France’s second biggest trading partner in Asia and therefore its economic health is significant for French interests.
Despite this, do not expect today’s meeting to result in a hard-line joint development strategy to counter Chinese expansion. Tariff hikes arising from the US-China trade war have fostered improved Sino-Japanese relations in an effort to balance economic losses—something that Japan is unlikely to radically disrupt.
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