France and Japan to work together on development of military equipment
As Japan seeks allies at time of rising tensions in the region, visiting French leader agrees with Abe to promote stability in the Asia-Pacific
Japan and France are to work on the joint development of military hardware, the two countries' leaders said, as Tokyo looks to bolster alliances at a time of rising tensions in East Asia.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said that Tokyo and Paris had agreed to work together on promoting stability in the Asia-Pacific region.
"We agreed that Japan and France, which share common values, interests and responsibility will enhance our special partnership," Abe said yesterday, alongside French President Francois Hollande.
"We agreed on dialogue between foreign and defence officials and agreed on joint development of military equipment and control of exports."
Japan has expressed concern over French exports to China of equipment that potentially might have military uses, including the sale last year of equipment used to help helicopters land on ships. Providing China with such a capability alarms Tokyo given its tensions with Beijing over disputed islands in the East China Sea. Hollande said he reiterated France's insistence that the helicopters were not intended for military use.
Asked about the strains between Japan and China, which Hollande visited weeks ago, the French president urged both to pursue dialogue in resolving their disagreement and above all to observe international law.
