The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC) of Cambodia on July 1 issued a press release stating that during Deputy Prime Minister and MFAIC Minister Hor Namhong’s talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in Phnom Penh on June 30, he did not mentioned the terms “Self-Defense Forces” or “Collective Self-Defense Right”.

With regard to regional issues, Hor Namhong only said Cambodia supports Japan’s peaceful policy, non-use of force, according to international law for the settlement of dispute in the region, said the press release.

The press release was issued after Japanese Kyodo News Agency on June 30 misquoted Hor Namhong’s statement made after his talks with Kishida, which was then quoted by some media agencies, that Hor Namhong expressed support for Japan's plan to give its Self-Defense Forces a greater role to contribute to global peace and stability.-VNA