NATO and Japanese officials have voiced their concerns over China¡¯s military activities, including a long-range missile launch earlier this week, as Tokyo seeks to keep the Western military alliance engaged in the Indo-Pacific.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi joined Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and other top officials from the Indo-Pacific Four (IP4) grouping ¡ª which includes Japan, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea ¡ª for a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Ankara on Tuesday.?

¡°China¡¯s military activities ¡ª including its extensive and rapid expansion of nuclear and missile capabilities without sufficient transparency ¡ª are a source of serious concern for Japan and the international community,¡± Koizumi told reporters at his first NATO summit.?