WASHINGTON: MOTEGI Toshimitsu, secretary-general of the Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party, said after a series of meetings with senior US government officials including National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan in Washington Monday that the Japan-US alliance has become “stronger than ever.”

“Areas of cooperation between the two countries are expanding,” Motegi told reporters.

Ahead of the summit of the Group of Seven major democracies to be held in the western Japan city of Hiroshima from May 19, Motegi discussed with the US officials Russia’s invasion Ukraine and issues related to China and North Korea.

“With China, which is moving to expand its influence, in mind, it is important for Japan and the United States to take the lead in rulemaking in the Indo-Pacific region,” Motegi said.

At the same time, the LDP secretary-general said that decoupling from China in all sectors is not realistic.

Motegi said he agreed with the US officials on the need to make a sharp distinction between areas where it is acceptable to have relations with China, and areas that are sensitive and require caution.

The officials Motegi held talks with also included Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. William Hagerty, who was US ambassador to Japan.

JIJI Press