Scholz Holds Talks with Kishida in Moves To Create Closer Economic Security Ties

Coming off talks with the South Korean leader, NATO’s designated “marcher lord” in the East, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held unprecedented talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Tokyo on March 18, never before having broached the subject of joint economic security between the two countries. The discussions dealt with economic security and increasing cooperation in the “supply network.” The fundamental issues of “economic security cooperation” involve reducing reliance on China, particularly in key areas of technology, and reducing the flow of such technology back to China. German officials characterized the talks as “highly political and symbolic.” The degree of coordination is unprecedented as the two sides held ministerial talks regarding economics, foreign policy and defense.