US lawmakers affirm Japan alliance eyeing China, North Korea

By YURI KAGEYAMA
Associated Press

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and visiting U.S. lawmakers have reaffirmed their commitment to working together under a longstanding alliance at a time of heightened global tensions and threats from China and North Korea. In a meeting over breakfast on Saturday, the delegation, led by Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, agreed with Kishida on the importance of maintaining a “free and open Indo-Pacific region,” according to the Foreign Ministry. The six lawmakers’ visit follows their earlier stop in Taiwan, where they declared their support for the self-governing island democracy, while issuing a warning to China. Beijing carried out military drills near Taiwan in protest of the delegation’s visit. Japan has long been nervous about China’s possible invasion of Taiwan.