Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said Tokyo is on guard for any potential security crisis in the region, while reiterating that the government’s stance on possible conflict over Taiwan hasn’t changed.

The Defense Ministry and the Self-Defence Forces will carry out their duties “while closely monitoring the situation,” Koizumi said during a visit to the southern island of Ishigaki, about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Taiwan.

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Koizumi was speaking during a visit to Japanese military and coast guard bases on its southern islands, his first since assuming the role in October.

While it’s common for new Japanese defense ministers to visit the islands and meet with military and political leaders, Koizumi’s visit has assumed additional significance following a

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