ウクライナ情勢「重大な懸念」　日米外相、緊密連携確認

　林芳正外相は１１日、訪問先のオーストラリアでブリンケン米国務長官と会談した。ロシアの軍事圧力で緊張が高まるウクライナ情勢について「重大な懸念」を共有。ウクライナの主権と領土の一体性を支持し、日米で緊密に連携していくことを確認した。日本による欧州への液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）の融通について、ブリンケン氏は謝意を表明した。
　両外相は、中国による東・南シナ海での一方的な現状変更の試みや経済的威圧に強く反対することを申し合わせた。「台湾海峡の平和と安定が重要」との認識も共有。弾道ミサイル発射を繰り返す北朝鮮への対応でも連携するとともに、日米の抑止力、対処力の強化が不可欠との認識で一致した。（2022/02/11-16:05）

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken at a meeting in Australia Friday shared serious concerns over the Ukrainian situation as tensions are growing in the region following military pressure from Russia.
   They confirmed that Japan and the United States support Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will closely cooperate over the matter.
   Blinken thanked Japan for its decision to divert part of its imported liquefied natural gas to Europe amid the growing tensions over Ukraine.
   Hayashi and Blinken agreed to strongly oppose China's unilateral attempts to change the status quo and its economic coercion in the East China and South China seas, while confirming the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
   They reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will continue working closely together over North Korea, which is repeatedly test-firing ballistic missiles, and shared the view that it is essential to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of their countries.