Society

Abe and US commander reaffirm bilateral alliance

Nov 17 (NHK) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has told the head of the US Pacific Command that Japan wants to closely work with the United States to enhance deterrence and response capabilities of the bilateral alliance.

Abe met Admiral Harry Harris at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Thursday.

Abe said he believes that the Japan-US alliance has been further strengthened by President Donald Trump's visit to Japan earlier in the month.

With North Korea in mind, Abe said he wants Japan and the US to deepen their cooperation to further beef up the bilateral alliance amid the increasingly severe security situation in the Asia-Pacific region.

In response, Harris referred to a recent joint exercise between Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels and 3 US aircraft carriers in the Sea of Japan.

Harris said the exercise represents the very good relations between Japan and the US. He said President Trump stresses the importance of the bilateral alliance. Harris said he wants to play his role in the alliance.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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