India, Japan oppose ‘unilateral change of status quo’ in region by using force

By Ahmet Furkan Mercan

TOKYO (AA) - India and Japan announced they would oppose the "unilateral change of the status quo by using force" in the region, Japan’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida talked via telephone with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discussed bilateral and regional developments, according to a statement by the ministry.

The two counterparts stressed the importance of the Quad alliance with the US and Australia.

Kishida, who called North Korea's missile tests a threat to peace and security, asked for India's support for Japanese citizens detained by North Korea, during the 25-minute talk.

The two leaders agreed on "raising relations to a new level of special strategic and global partnership” and planned for Kishida to visit India at an appropriate time.

Noting the importance of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries next year, the two sides reached a consensus on cooperation in many areas, including personnel exchange and national security.

*Writing by Merve Berker