(AP Photo)WASHINGTON--Japan’s trade and industry minister said on Thursday post-Cold War free trade and economic inter-dependence had bolstered authoritarian regimes and the United States and like-minded democracies should counter them with a “new world order.”“Authoritarian countries have amassed tremendous power, both economically and militarily,” Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yasutoshi Nishimura said in a speech at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.Nishimura spoke ahead of a visit to Washington next week by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for talks expected to cover issues including Ukraine, North Korea and China’s tensions with Taiwan.Nishimura’s call to arms comes amid growing concern after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that Beijing and Moscow will use their control over energy resources and sway over manufacturing supply chains to stop the United States, Japan, Europe and others from opposing their diplomatic and military goals.He also promised to work more closely with Washington on export controls, although he did not say whether Tokyo would match the sweeping restriction on exports of chip manufacturing equipment imposed by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration in October.Trash bins in Dotonbori in Osaka speak with Kansai accentJanuary 6, 2023Emperor, family greet New Year crowds for 1st time since 2020January 2, 2023Osaka Metro’s ‘spacecraft’ subway train bound for expoJanuary 1, 2023Visit this page for the latest news on Japan’s battle with the novel coronavirus pandemic."