Manila, July 22 -- Japan and the United States reaffirmed close coordination on Indo-Pacific security and agreed to maintain close communication on the escalating Iran conflict during talks in Manila, with Tokyo stressing the need to safeguard free navigation through the Strait of Hormuz without additional costs.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' meetings, where regional diplomats are grappling with heightened tensions in the Middle East and growing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific.
According to Japan's Foreign Ministry, Motegi underscored the urgency of de-escalating the conflict involving Iran and emphasised the importance of ensuring...