US, Japan leaders agree to strengthen defense and economic ties

Asia-Pacific, News, US January 22, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. President Joe Biden held a virtual meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on January 21 to highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan relationship and advance a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

According to the White House statement, “President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida agreed that the U.S.-Japan alliance has never been stronger or more necessary”.

President Biden agreed to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities and reinforce deterrence against common threats. The U.S president also welcomed the Japanese prime minister’s intent to revise Japan’s National Security Strategy and his decision to increase defense spending.

“As Indo-Pacific powers, the United States and Japan are united in shared purpose to sustain and enhance our commitment to the region. The two leaders resolved to push back against the People’s Republic of China (PRC)’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea; underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues,” the White House release read.

President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida reaffirmed their “support for ASEAN centrality and resolved to strengthen our cooperation in Southeast Asia”.

Both leaders also held talks on the ongoing Ukraine crisis and shared their commitment to work closely to counter Russian aggression against Ukraine. “Prime Minister Kishida pledged to continue close coordination with the United States, other Allies and partners, and the international community on taking strong action in response to any attack” the release added.

On the North Korea issue, the two leaders condemned the recent ballistic missile launches by Pyongyang and noted that such tests are in direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions. Both leaders expressed their commitment to maintain close coordination toward achieving the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. president also expressed his support for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue.

U.S. President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida affirmed the importance of “close cooperation among the United States, Japan, and the ROK in addressing common challenges”, and highlighted the imperative of a strong trilateral relationship between three nations on security.

The leaders of the U.S. and Japan agreed to enhance economic ties between the two countries and established a new ministerial-level Economic Policy Consultative Committee (the Economic “2+2”), to track and drive economic cooperation and to strengthen the rules-based economic order in the Indo-Pacific region and the world.

U.S. and Japanese diplomatic and defense leaders met virtually for the 2022 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee Meeting. (Image Credit: U.S. DoD / video grab IRIA) — *^{U.S. and Japanese diplomatic and defense leaders met virtually for the 2022 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee Meeting. (Image Credit: U.S. DoD/video grab by IRIA)}*

During the meeting, President Biden also applauded Japan and Australia’s signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement that will enable closer trilateral defense cooperation. Australia and Japan signed a defense and security cooperation treaty at a virtual summit on January 6.

The two leaders highlighted the importance of the Quad, an alliance that includes the U.S., Australia, Japan, India, as a “critical forum for promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region”. The U.S. president and the Japanese prime minister agreed to reinsure the Quad alliance delivers practical results in areas such as infrastructure, COVID-19 response, climate and clean energy.

U.S. President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Kishida’s invitation to visit Japan for the next Quad Leaders Meeting in the first half of 2022.