European Union, Japan Form Defense Ties

Europe is seeking to enhance its security cooperation with a key U.S. ally in the Indo-Pacific. On Friday, the European Union signed the first-ever defense pact with Japan. This political framework deepens our ability to tackle emergency threats together and towards a future where our values, our common values of democracy, human rights, and the rules-based international order will continue to guide our way. We would like to further deepen cooperation and dialogue in all areas related to security and defense with the European Union. The security agreement covers a wide range of cooperation, including joint drills, sharing defense and space security information, and joint development of military gear. As for handling threats on the horizon, Japan has previously called China its greatest security challenge. That's as Beijing keeps boosting Chinese military's presence in the Indo-Pacific. After talks in Tokyo, the European Union's top diplomat is now headed to South Korea, where he is likely to discuss North Korea's recent actions, including launching missiles and sending troops to Russia. Zooming further out, the EU's incoming foreign policy chief, last month, vowed to prevent threats from Russia and partly China from undermining Europe's security. She's expected to take office after a November hearing of the next EU commission. Beijing lashing out at Vietnam, demanding the country, in its words, educate its fishermen to keep out of waters claimed by China. This comes after Vietnam urged Beijing to immediately release a group of Vietnamese fishermen. Chinese troops detained the fishermen near the Paracel Islands, a contested area in the South China Sea. It's unclear how many of them are being held. Multiple countries claim parts of the South China Sea, though China claims almost all of it. An international court ruled Beijing's claim invalid back in 2016. Last month, Vietnam protested after Chinese law enforcement boarded a fishing boat and used metal bars to beat the ship's crew. Four were seriously injured.