Japan working hard on Trump...Speed to check China in all directions

[Anchor]
As Japan seeks to strengthen relations with the next Trump administration, the Japanese foreign minister will attend the inauguration of President Trump in an unusual manner.

In addition, cooperation with Southeast Asia in the foreign and security sectors is accelerating, and China is strengthening its checks in the Indo-Pacific region.

Correspondent Kim Se-ho's report from Tokyo.

[Reporter]
Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya is the first Japanese minister to attend the inauguration of President Trump.

It is unusual in that it has been customary to attend the Japanese ambassador to the U.S. so far.

Foreign Minister Iwaya is also expected to coordinate for the U.S.-Japan summit during his visit to the U.S.

[Iwaya Takeshi / Japanese Foreign Minister: We want to communicate closely with the next Trump administration with the intention of further deepening and developing relations]

The day after his inauguration, Iwaya was also expected to attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Indo-Pacific Security Consultative Group "Quad" in the United States, Japan, Australia and India.

The meeting is expected to reaffirm the importance of maintaining and strengthening cooperation among the four countries in the second Trump administration for Indo-Pacific security.

Earlier, Prime Minister Ishiba held a series of meetings with the leaders of Malaysia, the chair country of ASEAN, and Indonesia, which has the largest economy in Southeast Asia, from the 10th to the 11th.

[Shigeru Ishiba / Japanese Prime Minister: Strengthening cooperation with ASEAN and Southeast Asia is one of the top priorities in Japanese diplomacy.]

Prime Minister Ishiba agreed to strengthen cooperation in defense equipment technology during a meeting with the Indonesian president, including the decision to provide high-speed patrol boats.

We have China in mind, which is strengthening its entry into the ocean.

Japanese media, including the Asahi Shimbun, believe that as Southeast Asia is at the forefront of the U.S.-China competition, Japan intends to serve as a link between the U.S. and Southeast Asia, which could weaken after Trump's inauguration.

In addition, Japan's Self-Defense Forces are actively considering providing defense to Britain, which will send aircraft carriers to the Indo-Pacific region this year.

In the new year, Japan seems to be going all out from the top to the working level to check China.

I'm Kim Se-ho from YTN in Tokyo.