Japan, UK to expand defense relations

The British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth and its strike group will visit Japanese ports in September for joint exercises, defense ministers from Japan and Britain said Tuesday as the two countries step up military ties amid increased Chinese assertiveness in regional seas.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said the visit by the Royal Navy’s largest warship is part of his country’s “IndoPacific tilt” that shares goals with Japan.

“Both our countries seek to protect and uphold the rulesbased international order,” Wallace said at a joint news conference after meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Nobuo Kishi.