Kishida highlights security concerns on trip to Europe, US

By MARI YAMAGUCHI
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida begins a weeklong trip to strengthen military ties with Europe and Britain and bring into focus the Japan-U.S. alliance at a summit in Washington. It comes as Japan breaks from its postwar restraint to take on more offensive roles with an eye toward China. Kishida visits France, Italy, Britain and Canada before capping his five-nation tour Friday with talks with President Joe Biden. He’s meeting with leaders of Group of Seven nations with which Japan has stepped up defense ties in recent years. Japan in December adopted key security and defense reforms, including a counterstrike capability that breaks from an exclusively self-defense-only postwar principle.