U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering China and Russia.
Mandel Ngan | AFP | Getty Images
U.S. President Joe┬аBiden┬аand┬аJapanese Prime Minister Fumio┬аKishida┬аon Wednesday unveiled plans for military cooperation┬аand┬аprojects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance with an eye on countering┬аChina┬аand┬аRussia.
A joint┬аnews conference at the White House reflected the growing importance of Japan on the world stage┬аand┬аto the United States, as the two leaders weighed in on Gaza┬аand┬аIsrael, Ukraine┬аand┬аRussia, North Korea┬аand┬аother world flashpoints.
Biden┬аand┬аKishida┬аbrushed off a dispute over┬аNippon Steel’s offer┬аfor U.S. Steel, saying the issue was not a major factor in their discussions on a day of White House pomp┬аand┬аpageantry that culminated in a┬аlavish state dinner.
“This is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since it was first established,”┬аBiden┬аsaid after about two hours of talks that focused on the restive Indo-Pacific region┬аand┬аChina’s actions.
The United States┬аand┬аits allies, including Japan, have been bolstering their militaries to counter what they see as a growing threat from┬аChina┬аin the South┬аChina┬аSea┬аand┬аthe East┬аChina┬аSea,┬аand┬аto deter any attempt to seize Taiwan, a self-ruled Island┬аthat Beijing considers its own.
Kishida┬аsaid the two leaders discussed tense relations between Taiwan┬аand┬аChina,┬аand┬аpledged to uphold international order based on the rule of law. Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently┬аsaid outside interference┬аcould not stop the island’s “family reunion” with mainland┬аChina.
“Unilateral attempts to change status quo by force or coercion is absolutely unacceptable, wherever it may be,”┬аKishida┬аsaid. The U.S.┬аand┬аJapan will continue to respond to such actions, including challenges from┬аChina, he said.
“Regarding┬аRussia’s aggression of Ukraine … Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow,”┬аKishida┬аsaid.
Biden┬аalso vowed to keep open lines of communication with┬аChina┬аand┬аsaid the U.S.- Japan alliance was defensive in nature. He┬аspoke┬аto Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.
The announcements from┬аBiden┬аand┬аKishida┬аbrought the two World War Two enemies into the closest collaboration they have had since they became allies decades ago.
Biden┬аsaid their militaries will cooperate with a joint command┬аstructure┬аand┬аthey will, together with Australia, develop a┬аnew┬аair missile defense network. The two leaders also announced that Japanese astronauts will participate in NASA moon missions.
Overall, the U.S.┬аand┬аJapan have hammered out┬аabout 70 agreements┬аon defense cooperation, including moves to upgrade the U.S. military command┬аstructure in Japan to make it better able to work with Japanese forces in a crisis.
Japan, often described as the U.S.’s most important Asian ally┬аand┬аits largest source of foreign direct investment, is taking on a┬аstepped-up global role┬аafter a series of security law changes in the past decade that have transformed its pacifist constitution.
Kishida┬аwill address the U.S. Congress on Thursday┬аand┬аjoin┬аBiden┬аand┬аPhilippine President Ferdinand┬аMarcos Jr. for a meeting expected to focus on Beijing’s┬аSouth┬аChina┬аSea incursions.
The meeting took place as┬аChina┬аsteps up pressure on the Philippines in the South┬аChina┬аSea over areas Beijing claims but that international law says belong to the Philippines.
China┬аis attempting to isolate Japan┬аand┬аthe Philippines, a U.S. official said. By meeting the leaders of those two nations this week in Washington,┬аBiden┬аis aiming to “flip the script┬аand┬аisolate┬аChina.”
Fitch cut its┬аoutlook┬аon┬аChina’s sovereign credit rating to negative on Wednesday, citing risks to public finances as the economy faces increasing uncertainty in its shift to┬аnew┬аgrowth models.
On Thursday,┬аBiden┬аwill also hold a┬аbilateral meeting┬аwith Marcos, whom he welcomed in Washington┬аjust last year, before the pair join┬аKishida┬аfor a trilateral summit.
The visit may give a political boost to┬аKishida, whose┬аpopularity has waned┬аat home.
He is being greeted with great fanfare, with Japanese flags on display throughout Washington ahead of the glitzy state dinner where guests included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Robert De Niro, Amazon.com’s┬аJeff Bezos┬аand┬аFederal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.
Musician Paul Simon┬аprovided the entertainment┬аafter the dinner, opening his set with a performance of “Graceland.”
Overshadowing the visit is a controversy over the planned $15 billion acquisition of American steel maker U.S. Steel┬аby┬аJapan’s┬аNippon Steel, a deal some say is┬а“on life support”┬аafter criticism by┬аBiden┬аand┬аformer President┬аDonald Trump, his rival in November’s┬аU.S. election.
Kishida, asked about the deal, said he hoped discussions about it would bear fruit.
“We wish to cement this win-win relationship,” he said.
Biden┬аsaid he stood by his commitment to union workers on the issue.
Also looming are Japanese concerns that if Trump wins a second term he might┬аseek a deal with┬аChina┬аthat could destabilize the region.