Japan, US, South Korea Foreign Ministers Meet, Express Concern Over China's Ballistic Missile Test

(CNA Taipei, Aug. 8) According to Kyodo News, on the 7th local time, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi held talks in Turkey, the venue for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The talks expressed shared concern over the Chinese military's test firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) on the 6th.

The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement saying that the talks exchanged views on attempting to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion, and reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. It is analyzed that this may be directed at China.

The last meeting of the Japanese, U.S., and South Korean foreign ministers was held in South Korea in October 2025. After this meeting, Motegi emphasized to the media, "We hope to further broaden the scope of cooperation."

Before the trilateral foreign ministers' meeting, Motegi held separate talks with Rubio and Cho Hyun. Motegi expressed opposition to charging fees for passage through the Strait of Hormuz to Rubio, emphasizing the importance of ensuring free and safe navigation. Both sides confirmed their continued cooperation in responding to the Indo-Pacific situation.

In his talks with Cho Hyun, Motegi stated that Japan will actively promote "shuttle diplomacy" through reciprocal visits between the leaders of Japan and South Korea, and maintain close communication between the governments. (Editor: Jianling Zhu / Guoqiang Qiu) 1150708

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