Japan to send envoy to Solomons amid worry over China pact

Japan is sending a vice foreign minister to the Solomon Islands amid worry over a security agreement it struck with China that might increase Beijings military influenceBy MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated PressApril 25, 2022, 4:53 AM – 2 min readShare to FacebookShare to TwitterEmail this articleTOKYO– Japan is sending a vice foreign minister to the Solomon Islands on Monday amid worry over a recent security arrangement that the South Pacific nation struck with China that could increase Beijings military impact in the region.Vice Foreign Minister Kentaro Uesugis three-day trip to Solomon Islands begins the heels of a go to by a senior U.S. delegation, who cautioned that Washington would take unspecified action versus the South Pacific country need to the security handle China pose a threat to U.S. or allied interests.The security pact, which China and the Solomons confirmed recently, has actually also alarmed surrounding nations and Western allies, including Japan, that fear a military buildup in the region.”We think the deal might impact the security of the entire Asia-Pacific area and we are seeing the development with issue,” Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Friday.Uesugi, during his visit to the Solomon Islands, is anticipated to communicate Japans concern about the security pact and talk about bilateral and regional issues.Japan sees Chinas increasingly assertive military activity in the East and South China seas as a hazard in a few of the worlds busiest sea lanes.Japan is particularly worried about Chinese military and coast guard activity in the East China Sea near the Japanese-controlled Senkaku islands, which China likewise calls and declares Diaoyu.Tokyo has in recent years substantially stepped up security cooperation and expanded joint drills with the United States and other Western partners, consisting of Australia, India, France, Britain and Germany, that share its issues about Chinas growing impact.