INTERNATIONAL: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken have agreed on Saturday on the need to fortify their countries' alliance amid a tougher regional security environment.

Hayashi and Blinken held talks on the sidelines of a meeting of Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers in the English city of Liverpool. The ministers, in light of the increasingly severe security environment in the region, agreed it is indispensable to boost the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.

Faced with China's military build-up and North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said on Monday he plans to fundamentally strengthen Japan's defence posture by looking into options including acquiring the capability to strike enemy bases.

Hayashi and Blinken did not discuss the diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Japan has reported on Saturday, citing multiple sources with knowledge of the matter, that senior Japanese government officials will likely skip the Olympic Games as well, joining the United States and others in a diplomatic boycott.