'Japan strongly opposes this,' Motegi was quoted as saying in the ministry's press release.īeijing has frequently sent official vessels to waters around the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea in an attempt to lay claim to them. Turning to the situation in the East and South China seas, Motegi stated that unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force are 'continuing and intensifying' in the waters, in a veiled criticism of Beijing's assertiveness there. He called for Beijing to 'engage in bilateral dialogue with the United States on arms control,' according to the Japanese Foreign Ministry. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told the meeting that he wants to encourage China, along with other countries, to fulfill the responsibilities of a nuclear-weapon state, touching on an agreement between the United States and Russia earlier this year to extend the last remaining treaty capping their nuclear arsenals. diplomat also noted 'deep concern' over the rapid growth of China's nuclear arsenal, saying it highlights how Beijing has 'sharply deviated from its decades-old nuclear strategy based on minimum deterrence,' according to the State Department. Ongoing U.S.-China tensions cast a shadow over the event, with Blinken calling on Beijing to 'cease its provocative behavior in the South China Sea' and raising 'serious concerns' about its alleged human rights abuses against the Muslim Uyghur minority in the western Xinjiang region as well as in Hong Kong and Tibet. Brunei is serving as ASEAN's chair this year.

The meeting of the 27-member ARF, which also includes countries such as China and South Korea, was held as part of this week's series of virtual gatherings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

(Photo courtesy of Japanese Foreign Ministry) (Kyodo) 6, 2021, shows an online ministerial conference of the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Rise of nations nuke