Tokyo
CNN
—
Japan pledged $5.5 billion in humanitarian help to Ukraine on Monday, almost quadrupling the sum of money Tokyo has promised to Kyiv since Russia invaded its neighbor almost a yr in the past.
“Japan is able to lead the world’s efforts to assist Ukraine in its battle in opposition to Russian aggression and to uphold a free and open worldwide order primarily based on the rule of legislation,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated Monday.
Tokyo had beforehand pledged to ship Kyiv $600 million in monetary help and $700 million value of humanitarian help together with medical provides and meals help. It additionally joined Western allies in imposing strict sanctions on Russia over its invasion.
Final summer time, Kishida stated in a speech that Russia’s invasion gave warning that “Ukraine at this time could also be East Asia tomorrow” – and he echoed that language Monday.
“Russia’s aggression in opposition to Ukraine is not only a European matter, however a problem to the principles and ideas of your entire worldwide neighborhood,” he stated.
He added that Japan faces its “most extreme” safety setting since World Conflict II, citing North Korea’s rising nuclear missile program and “makes an attempt to unilaterally change the established order by drive within the East and South China Seas.”
Kishida didn’t identify specifics, however Tokyo has seen itself more and more at odds with Beijing over islands claimed by each Japan and China within the East China Sea. In the meantime, Kishida and different Japanese officers have beforehand stated that peace throughout the Taiwan Strait is of utmost significance to Japan’s safety.
Late final yr, Kishida introduced a big enhance in Japanese army spending and Tokyo’s intention to amass long-range weapons to counter threats to Japan’s safety.
Kishida additionally introduced on Monday that he’ll host an internet summit of G7 leaders with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, the primary anniversary of Moscow’s invasion and forward of the annual G7 summit in Hiroshima in Could.
The Japanese chief stated Hiroshima was an acceptable venue for the summit as the town was the location of an atomic bombing throughout World Conflict II and Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine is elevating new nuclear fears.
“Because of Russia’s actions, the world now faces an actual menace from nuclear weapons,” Kishida stated. “It is very important convey the fact of the atomic bombings to the world, together with the G7 leaders, as the place to begin for all efforts towards nuclear disarmament.”
