US-Japan 2 + 2 talks begin in Tokyo

The heads of the military and diplomatic departments of the United States and Japan began negotiations in the “two plus two” format in Tokyo on Tuesday, Kyodo news agency reported.

They are attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin.

It is expected that the main topics of the talks will be the strengthening of the bilateral alliance and the opposition to China’s activity in the region.

The US Secretary of State Blinken and the head of the Pentagon Austin, making their first overseas trip after the inauguration of the US President Joe Biden, arrived in Japan on March 15, and will go to South Korea on March 17.