Japan PM Suga on US alliance ahead of Pompeo meeting

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said he has been "gaining confidence" on his diplomacy since taking over as premier and emphasized the significance of his country's alliance with the US.

Suga's comments come ahead of a meeting US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as well as talks between four Indo-Pacific nations in Tokyo this week.

"Based on the core effective alliance between Japan and the US, we need to develop measures and protect the national interest of Japan," he said during a press conference in Tokyo.

Tuesday will be Suga's in-person diplomatic debut with the foreign ministers from four Indo-Pacific nations known as the Quad group.

The ministers are to discuss their response to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the "free and open Indo-Pacific" concept of security and economic cooperation that Japan and the US have been pushing to bring together countries who share concerns about China's growing assertiveness and influence in the region.

Suga succeeded Japan's long-serving leader Shinzo Abe, who stepped down due to health concerns, last month.

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