Japan defense chief to visit Britain for fighter jet talks

Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said he will visit Britain this week to discuss how the joint development of a new fighter jet is progressing, among other issues, with his counterpart, John Healey.

Nakatani will leave Japan on Monday for the bilateral talks, aiming to share with the British defense secretary the belief that the security of the Indo-Pacific region and Europe is inseparable.

"I would like to affirm the maintenance and reinforcement of the free and open international order that is based on rules of law," the Japanese minister told a press conference in Tokyo.

The two defense chiefs are also expected to discuss Japan's cooperation with AUKUS -- the security partnership framework between Australia, Britain and the United States -- over defense equipment and technology.

During his four-day trip, Nakatani plans to inspect the GCAP International Government Organization, an international body set up last month in Reading, southern England, to manage the trilateral fighter development plan with Britain and Italy, before returning to Japan on Thursday.

Nakatani is also planning to visit the Permanent Joint Headquarters of the British military, which commands joint and multinational military operations on behalf of the Ministry of Defense, as Japan will set up its own joint operations command of the Self-Defense Forces this spring.

© KYODO