Japan stresses US role in Asia-Pacific security

TOKYO, Jan 24 (AFP): Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba stressed on Friday the importance of close ties with the United States for regional stability, as he seeks to arrange a meeting with President Donald Trump.

"As the balance of power in the region undergoes a historic change, we must deepen Japan-US cooperation further, in a concrete manner," Ishiba told parliament.

Tokyo must also "continue to secure the US commitment to the region, to avoid a power vacuum leading to regional instability", he added in a policy speech.

His comments underscored jitters over China's military build-up in the Asia-Pacific and Trump's "America First" policies, which may include demanding that allies such as Japan shoulder a larger proportion of defence costs.

"Japan-US leadership is essential to strengthen the free and open Indo-Pacific by establishing multi-layered security networks including Japan-US-Australia-India, Japan-US-South Korea.