German Foreign Minister Johann Wadeful accused China and North Korea today of endangering international stability through their aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
“The rule is that borders are never changed by force. Neither in Europe, nor in the Indo-Pacific region, nor anywhere else in the world“, Wadeful noted during a visit to the US Seventh Fleet and the Japanese naval base in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo.
He stressed the vital role of strong partnerships in maintaining peace, security and stability. The Yokosuka base is of strategic importance for stability in the region, Wadeful said, adding that Germany, together with its G7 partners, Japan and the United States, is monitoring the growing tensions.
The US Seventh Fleet is based in Japan under a bilateral security agreement dating back to 1960 and includes more than 70 warships, including an aircraft carrier and a submarine, with an area of operations covering 36 countries. More than 26,000 US troops live and serve at the Yokosuka base, DPA noted.
Wadeful warned that the strengthening of China's military power and Beijing's drive to become a global leader in technology through big data and artificial intelligence pose a threat to the region. He urged China not to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, stressing that the prohibition on the use of force under the UN Charter also applies to the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
The German foreign minister also sharply criticized North Korea's rhetoric and maneuvers, which he said were leading to an escalation of tensions. Pyongyang continues to expand its nuclear arsenal, test ballistic missiles in violation of international law and support Russia's war in Ukraine, undermining peace in both the Indo-Pacific region and Europe.
Vadeful accused North Korea of violating several UN Security Council resolutions. The German navy participated last year in monitoring ships for potential violations of sanctions against Pyongyang, and since the beginning of this year Germany has been represented in the group by a permanent liaison officer. "The work of the coordination group makes it more difficult and more expensive for anyone trying to circumvent sanctions," Wadeful said.
The minister arrived in Japan yesterday and will leave for Indonesia tomorrow.