The Asia-Pacific region does not welcome NATO’s plans to open a liaison office in Japan, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Mao Ning, said today during a press briefing after Tokyo referred to the plan.

She also added that Japan should be particularly careful with the issue of military security given its history of aggression.

Earlier today, Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, said his country had no plans to join NATO, although he noted the alliance was considering opening a liaison office in Tokyo, its first in Asia, seeking better coordination.

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