A Japanese cabinet minister has criticized comments by the presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Local Revitalization Minister Shigeru Ishiba told a symposium in Washington on Friday there is the growing concern in Japan over the possibility of a shift in the Japan-US alliance.
Ishiba didn't refer to Trump by name, but his remarks appeared to be aimed directly at the 69-year-old billionaire, who has said Japan should shoulder the full cost of hosting US troops.
Ishiba also dismissed Trump's suggestion that he would allow Japan and South Korea to develop nuclear weapons. Ishiba said that would increase instability in the region and harm the interests of the United States.
The minister said Japan wants to strengthen the alliance between the countries.
New security legislation allows Japan to exercise its right to collective self-defense in a limited manner. Ishiba said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made it clear Japan needs to revise its Constitution if it is to exercise the right in a wider manner.
Ishiba also said that at some time in the future the countries should discuss revisions to the Japan-US Security Treaty and Status-of-Forces Agreement so that the alliance would become balanced under changes to the Constitution.