TOKYO - Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday said the country had no plans to become a Nato member but acknowledged the security alliance’s plan to open a liaison office in Japan.

Mr Kishida’s comments came after the Japanese ambassador to the United States earlier in May said that the US-led military pact was planning a Tokyo office, the first in Asia, to facilitate consultations in the region.

“I am not aware of any decision made” at Nato regarding the establishment of the office, Mr Kishida told a Wednesday Parliament session.

He added that Japan was not planning to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as a member or semi-member state.

On its part, China’s foreign ministry said the Asia-Pacific region does not welcome Nato’s plan to open the office.

“We want to say that the Asia-Pacific does not welcome group confrontation, does not welcome military confrontation,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Mao Ning said at a press briefing on Wednesday.

She also said Japan should be “extra cautious on the issue of military security” given its “history of aggression”. REUTERS