対中朝、態勢づくり急ぐ　林外相、「クアッド」「日米韓」出席へ

　林芳正外相は１０日夜、日本、米国、オーストラリア、インドの４カ国連携の枠組み「クアッド」の外相会談や日米韓３カ国の外相会談に出席するため、チャーター機で羽田空港を出発した。クアッドでは覇権主義的な動きを強める中国を念頭に、民主主義陣営の態勢強化を急ぐ方針を確認したい考え。日米韓ではミサイル発射を急ピッチで繰り返す北朝鮮への対処を話し合う。（2022/02/10-22:05）

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in a series of weekend meetings is eager to confirm the commitment with his counterparts from the United States and others to joining hands in tackling issues involving China and North Korea.
   Hayashi is set to take a chartered flight from Tokyo International Airport at Haneda on Thursday night for Melbourne, where he will attend a foreign ministers' meeting of the Quad framework, comprising Japan, the United States, Australia and India, on Friday.
   He hopes that the four ministers will affirm a policy of strengthening cooperation among democratic nations apparently in response to China's hegemonic behavior. They are expected to discuss moves by China, which is expanding its global economic and military clout, and boosting cooperation with Russia, informed sources said.
   The Quad ministers are also seen expressing their commitment to contributing to the Indo-Pacific region partly through donating novel coronavirus vaccines to developing countries. In addition, they are likely to confirm a plan to hold a Quad summit in Japan in the first half of this year.
   After the Melbourne meeting, Hayashi is scheduled to fly to Hawaii for a three-way foreign ministers' meeting with the United States and South Korea on Saturday.