By Elaine Lies

TOKYO (Reuters), -European Union leaders declared on Thursday that the EU wanted to expand its role in Asia. The “theatre” of tensions they called was a threat to a more assertive China.

Following talks in Tokyo the President of European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Charles Michel, President of European Council, spoke at a joint news conference that they were continuing to discuss ways to maximize their cooperation to confront Russia in relation to its invasion in Ukraine in energy.

Michel and von der Leyen said that they also knew there were tensions in Asia and suggested that the EU would play a larger role.

The Indo-Pacific region is flourishing. Von der Leyen stated that it is also a theater of tensions. Consider the current situation in South China Sea, and the ongoing threat from the DPRK.

The European Union would like to play a greater role in the Indo-Pacific. We are willing to assume more responsibility for a region so critical to our success.

Both sides were pleased with Japan’s inclusion in anti-Russian measures, which included sanctions.

At the beginning of the talks, von der Leyen stated that they were happy with the “increasingly strong stance Japan takes against Russia”.

Tokyo joins the European Union, Group of Seven and other nations to impose trade sanctions on Russia. Moscow refers to its actions in Ukraine as a “special army operation”. These have restricted Moscow’s ability export oil and natural gas.

Japan heavily depends on oil imports from Russia, even though it is heavily dependent upon them. Kishida stated last week that Japan would ban Russian oil in principle, but has been less willing to withdraw from certain projects.

These three officials met in the Japanese capital to discuss an annual conference. It was held online because of last year’s coronavirus epidemic.

Von der Leyen will depart Japan Thursday afternoon. Michel will go to Hiroshima, the Nuclear Memorial City of Hiroshima. They will both leave the following weekend.