Japan, France to hold security talks in mid-January: Reports

BEIJING: Japan and France intend to hold virtual two-plus-two security talks in mid-January to discuss China’s assertive territorial claims in the East and South China seas and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, reported Kyodo News Agency quoting Japanese government sources on Friday.

This comes at a time of China’s rising maritime assertiveness and North Korea on Friday carried out what became the third launch of apparent ballistic missiles in 10 days.