Japan and France plan to hold virtual ministerial security talks in mid-January focusing on China's assertive territorial claims in the East and South China seas and North Korea's nuclear and missile development, Japanese government sources have said.
The defense and foreign ministers of the two countries are expected to release documents after the so-called two-plus-two talks, the first of their kind since the last session was held in France in January 2019, the sources said Friday.
The two sides are likely to discuss ways to boost response capability against military threats in the Indo-Pacific, especially after North Korea on Friday carried out what became the third launch of apparent ballistic missiles in 10 days.