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☆ Biden calls US ally Japan ‘xenophobic’ along with Russia and China
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-02 | by ( Arlette Saenz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —President Joe Biden on Wednesday called close US ally Japan “xenophobic” at a Washington, D.C., fundraiser, just weeks after lauding the US-Japan alliance at a state dinner. The president made the remark while arguing that Japan, along with Russia and China, would perform better economically if the countries embraced immigration more. Because we welcome immigrants,” Biden said, according to reporters traveling with the president at a fundraiser with Asian American and Pacific Islander supporters. Immigrants are what makes us strong.”Biden had similarly cast Japan, Russia and China as “xenophobic” during an interview with a Spanish language radio station in March. The latest critique of Japan comes less than a month after he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit.

Persons: Joe Biden, ” Biden, “, ”, Fumio Kishida, Biden, Jessie Yeung Organizations: CNN, D.C, American, Pacific, Immigrants, Japanese, White House Locations: Japan, Washington, Russia, China

☆ Trump meets with foreign leaders looking to boost their relationships with GOP leader ahead of election
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Alayna Treene | Steve Contorno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In recent weeks, Trump, seizing the role of both an erstwhile diplomat and ascending opposition party leader, has extended welcomes to a series of foreign leaders at his homes in Florida and New York. It’s not unusual for foreign leaders to meet with the leader of the party that doesn’t control the White House – especially one with a serious chance of becoming commander in chief. Biden and his top envoys have also met and spoken with opposition leaders, something that has been a longstanding practice for US officials. Last week, Trump met with Poland’s Duda at Trump Tower, where the two discussed NATO spending over dinner. Trump, both while president and during his 2024 campaign, has called on NATO countries to spend more on defense.

Persons: Donald Trump, hasn’t, Trump, Andrzej Duda, David Cameron, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Taro Aso, It’s, Sen, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Biden, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Antony Blinken, Keir Starmer, Joe Biden, “ They’re, he’s, “, Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, ” Biden, ”, Kim Jong Un, ” Trump, Brian Hughes, Viktor Orban, Putin, Javier Milei, Orban, Viktor Orbán, Orbán, Aso, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Lindsey Graham, Salman, King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Poland’s Duda, Duda, meanwhile, Cameron, Karen Pierce, Cameron’s, Pierce didn’t, Queen Elizabeth II Organizations: CNN, Air Force, British, Saudi Crown, Middle East, Republican, UK Labour Party, US State Department, Biden, Trump, NATO, Conservative Political, Japanese, White, Liberal Democratic Party, Saudi, New York Times, South Carolina Republican, Hamas, The New York Times, Trump Tower, Republicans, Democrats, UK Locations: House, huddling, Florida, New York, Lago, Manhattan, Japan, China, North Korea, Berlin, United Kingdom, Israel, Poland, Belarus, Munich, Europe, America, Ukraine, Korean, United States, Palm, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, American, Russia, British, Washington

This month, President Biden threw one of the most lavish state dinners in Washington’s recent memory. Celebrities and billionaires flocked to the White House to dine in honor of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, posing for photos in front of an elaborate display of Japanese fans. The spectacle was part of a carefully orchestrated series of events to showcase the renewed U.S.-Japan relationship — and the notable transformation of the United States’ security alliances in Asia. Over the past several years, Washington has built a series of multilateral security arrangements like these in the Asia-Pacific region. Although U.S. officials claim that the recent mobilization of allies and partners is not aimed at China, don’t believe it.

Persons: Biden, Fumio Kishida, Jeff Bezos, Paul Simon, —, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Kishida Organizations: United Locations: Japan, U.S, United States, Asia, Philippines, China, Washington, Pacific, South China, Taiwan Strait

CNN —One rescued crew member has died and seven others are still missing after two Japanese military helicopters appeared to have crashed during a drill late Saturday, Japan’s Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said. “It is very unfortunate that this situation has come to this point,” Kihara told reporters on Sunday. Kihara said that “there is a high possibility of a collision,” and the flight recorders of the two helicopters were found and recovered from the area. “What is believed to be part of the aircraft has been confirmed at sea, and the two aircraft are thought to have crashed,” Kihara said. The SH-60K helicopters are mainly stationed on and operated from destroyers, and the two aircraft were conducting night-time training to search for submarines, according to the JMSDF.

Persons: Minoru Kihara, ” Kihara, Kihara, Rahm Emanuel, “, Fumio Kishida Organizations: CNN, Japan’s, Japan, Self, Defense Force Locations: Japan, Izu

☆ OpenAI opens its first Asia office in Japan as a 'first step' in its commitment to the region
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Sumathi Bala | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

OpenAI has opened its first Asian office in Tokyo, Japan as the ChatGPT developer aims to expand its global presence. As part of the move, the company has appointed Tadao Nagasaki as the new president of OpenAI Japan, to head commercial and market engagement efforts. Altman met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida last year and reportedly mentioned he was looking into opening a new office in Japan. The company is backed by Microsoft and has a private market valuation that's reportedly approaching $100 billion. This is the "single largest investment in its 46-year history in Japan, also the site of its first international office," Microsoft said.

Persons: OpenAI, Sam Altman, Tadao, Altman, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Toyota, Microsoft Locations: Tokyo, Japan, Tadao Nagasaki, OpenAI Japan

☆ Can China play a role in avoiding an all-out war in the Middle East?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Nectar Gan | Simone Mccarthy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“China calls on the international community, especially countries with influence, to play a constructive role for the peace and stability of the region,” the ministry added. The decision by Iran’s leaders to strike at Israel directly has pushed the shadow war between the two regional foes into the open. That’s why China does not condemn Iran,” said Yun Sun, director of the China program at the Washington-based Stimson Center think tank. Beijing meanwhile denounced the strike as a “barbarian act,” with protests erupting outside US diplomatic compounds across China. “For China, had US applies enough pressure on Israel, neither the Israeli attack nor the Iranian retaliation would have taken place.

Persons: Beijing’s, Antony Blinken, Wang Yi –, Saudi Arabia –, ”, William Figueroa, Figueroa, “, Xi Jinping, China’s, Iran ”, Israel, ” Figueroa, Wang Wenbin, Wang, Yun Sun, Bill Clinton, Jiang Zemin, ” Sun, Kishida, Jaishankar, Israel Katz, Hossein Amirabdollahian Organizations: Hong Kong CNN, Foreign Ministry, Washington, US State Department, Hamas, Beijing, Tehran, University of Groningen, Global Security Initiative, CNN, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Stimson, NATO, Embassy, Japan’s, Israel’s Foreign, Iranian Locations: China, Hong Kong, East, Iran, Israel, Beijing, Gaza, Tehran, Damascus, Republic, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Palestinian, Red, Tehran –, Netherlands, underinvestment, United States, Israeli, Syria, Quds, Washington, Belgrade, That’s, Yugoslavia, Asia, ”, India, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia

☆ US Steel’s future as an American company is about to come to a vote. It may not matter
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“It is important that we maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steelworkers,” he said. “US Steel has been an iconic American steel company for more than a century, and it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated.”Experts said opposition from Biden and other politicians — both Republican and Democrats — make it unlikely the deal will win approval. “Six weeks ago, the United States gave Mitsui, a Japanese company, a $20 billion deal to build a crane factory here in the United States and replace all our port cranes throughout the United States. “If the administration has concerns about the Nippon Steel deal, it must seriously consider alternative outcomes. US Steel products, supported by significant capital investments from Nippon Steel, will remain mined, melted and made in America,” the company said.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, ”, —, “ It’s, Michael Leiter, Skadden, “, Kishida Fumio, ‘, ’, It’s, JD Vance, Phil Gibbs, KeyBank, Gibbs, it’s, Jeff Roberson, Nucor, hasn’t, ” “ Organizations: New, New York CNN, US Steel, Japan’s Nippon Steel, Justice Department, Foreign Investment, Treasury, Commerce, Defense, State, Homeland Security, American steelworkers, Steel, ”, Republican, Democrats —, Japanese, United States, Mitsui, United Steelworkers, steelworkers, Ohio, Nippon, Cleveland Cliffs, Nippon Steel, Cleveland, US Steel Granite City Works, AP, US Locations: New York, United States, Japan, American, Slate, United, Cleveland, US Steel Granite City, Arkansas, America

☆ Biden warns on Beijing's South China Sea moves in Philippines-Japan summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Leaders from the three nations are meeting in a first-ever trilateral summit in a show of solidarity as China's assertiveness in the South China Sea has raised tensions in the region. Topping the meeting's agenda is China's increasing pressure in the South China Sea, which has escalated despite a personal appeal by Biden to Chinese President Xi Jinping last year. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, including the maritime economic zones of neighboring nations. Japan has a dispute with China over islands in the East China Sea. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said "China's activities in the East China Sea and South China Sea fully comply with international law" and that they were prepared to resolve issues through "dialogue and consultation" but criticized both the U.S. and Japan for ratcheting up tensions.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos, Andrew Harnik, Beijing's, Joe Biden's, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Biden, Xi Jinping, Thomas Shoal, Marcos, Thomas, Mao Ning Organizations: Japanese, White, Washington , DC, South China, Getty, East China, U.S Locations: Washington ,, South, China, U.S, Japan, Philippines, Manila, . U.S, American, Washington, South China, States, East

☆ Jamie Dimon joined other top business leaders at the glitzy White House dinner. See who joined him on the guest list.
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Leaders from JPMorgan, Microsoft, and Apple attended a White House state dinner on Wednesday. The dinner was hosted by Biden for the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida. Take a look at the business leaders and tech moguls who attended the lavish event. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementOn Wednesday top business and tech figures mingled with celebrities and lawmakers at the White House for a state dinner hosted by President Joe Biden.

Persons: Apple, Biden, Fumio, —, Joe Biden Organizations: JPMorgan, Microsoft, White House, Japan, Service, White Locations: Japan

☆ Opinion: The world rushes to court Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-12 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and a columnist for World Politics Review. Now, they’re urgently working on two fronts: seeking to Trump-proof their foreign policy and defense, and hoping to minimize the potential negative impact of a Trump victory. Making matters more unusual – and far more unethical – Trump has effectively launched his own shadow foreign policy, actively undermining Biden’s – America’s – policy. Not only is the former president leveraging his control of the Republican Party to block US aid to Ukraine ‑ Trump is interfering in US foreign policy elsewhere. Interfering in US foreign policy is bad enough, but there’s also an unseemly financial angle.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Fumio Kishida, David Cameron, Donald Trump, –, It’s, they’re, Putin, Trump, Jens Stoltenberg, Viktor Orban, ”, Orban, “, ’, Joe Biden’s, – Trump, Biden’s, Ukraine ‑ Trump, Richard Grenell, Grenell, Grennell, there’s, Jared Kushner, Aleksandar Vucic, ingratiate, Japan’s, Shinzo Abe, Ivanka Trump, —, Biden Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Washington , D.C, British, Trump, Ukraine –, NATO, European, Trump Heritage Foundation, ”, EU, Europe –, Republican Party, Serbian Locations: Washington ,, Japan, United States, Mar, Europe, Russia, European Union, Ukraine, EU, ” Russia, “, East, Guatemala, Washington, Serbia, New York

☆ White House says it’s very concerned by China’s actions in the South China Sea ahead of key trilateral meeting
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —The White House is very concerned by China’s actions in the South China Sea, a senior administration official said, as President Joe Biden prepares to draw two Asian allies closer at a historic meeting on Thursday. Japan and the Philippines both have separate territorial disputes with China, in the former’s case the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea and in the latter’s areas of the South China Sea. Meanwhile, China claims the shoal, which is in the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, as its sovereign territory, as it does much of the South China Sea, in defiance of an international arbitration ruling. CNN has previously reported that the three leaders will hold private discussions on the South China Sea. A senior administration official also said that on Thursday the White House will be announcing a new infrastructure project in the Philippines.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Fumio Kishida, Thomas, Kishida, Marcos, Rodrigo Duterte, “ We’re, ” Biden, Australia –, ”, Brad Lendon, Arlette Saenz, Kayla Tausche Organizations: Washington CNN, Japanese, East China, China Coast Guard, CNN, American, White, Clark Air Base, Subic Naval Base, Coast Guard Locations: South China, Japan, Philippines, China, East, Philippine, Palawan, Taiwan, South, North Korea, Russia, Kishida, Ukraine, Manila, Asia, Pacific, United States, Beijing, India, US, Australia

☆ Japanese PM Kishida tells Congress the U.S. must play leading role in the world
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Ryan Anastasio | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida urged the U.S. Thursday to continue playing a leading role in the world as it faces threats to democracy and the economic order. Kishida told lawmakers at a joint meeting of Congress that the world is at a pivotal moment that will define the next stage of history. "The world needs the United States to continue playing this pivotal role in the affairs of nations," Kishida said. The prime minister pledged that Japan would not sit on the sidelines and require the U.S. to defend international order on its own. Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in 2022 after leaving office, became the first Japanese leader to speak to a joint meeting of Congress in 2015.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Mike Johnson, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin, Antony Blinken, Biden, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Shinzo Abe Organizations: U.S, Capitol, U.S ., State Department, White, Philippine, Former Locations: Washington , U.S, United States, U.S, Japan, China, Russia, Congress, North Korea, Ukraine, East Asia, Philippines

☆ Akebono: Pioneering US-born sumo wrestling champion dies aged 54
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Andrew Mcnicol | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Tokyo CNN —Pioneering US-born former sumo wrestling champion Akebono has died, his family announced in a statement Thursday. Widely considered to have blazed a trail for other foreign sumo wrestlers, the 54-year-old died of heart failure at a hospital in Japan. Born Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan in Hawaii, Akebono became the first non-Japanese yokozuna – a sumo grand champion, the highest rank in the sport. According to the Japan Sumo Association, Akebono was rushed to hospital after a wrestling match in 2017 and had been unwell ever since. I was talking with him about meeting under a tree in Hawaii with all our fellow sumo wrestlers when we grew older.

Persons: Akebono, Chad George Ha’aheo Rowan, –, Akebono Taro, “, Akebono “, Rahm Emanuel, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Masaru Hanada, ” Hanada, I’m, ” Organizations: Tokyo CNN —, Yokozuna, Japan Sumo Association, Twitter, Japanese Olympic Committee, Nagano, Japan’s Locations: Japan, Hawaii, Tokyo, United States, ”, Washington, I’ll

☆ Tim Cook, Robert De Niro, and Hillary Clinton rubbed shoulders at the White House state dinner for Japan — see the night's best photos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Talia Lakritz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden hosted a state dinner for the prime minister of Japan. Cherry blossoms appeared in the White House decor and menu as well as in guests' outfits. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. The event, featuring cherry blossom-themed decor and high-profile guests, was more than just an excuse to dress up and decorate the White House. Take a look at some of the highlights from the state dinner.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Cherry, Jeff Bezos, Tim Cook, Robert De Niro, —, Fumio Kishida, Yuko Kishida Organizations: Japan, Service, Japanese, White Locations: Japan

☆ Biden and Japan's Kishida forge new partnership, eyeing China and Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

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. 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. "Regarding Russia's aggression of Ukraine ... Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow," Kishida said. Biden also vowed to keep open lines of communication with China and said the U.S.- Japan alliance was defensive in nature. He spoke to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Biden, Kishida, Xi Jinping Organizations: Japanese, Nippon Steel's, U.S . Steel, U.S . Locations: China, Russia, Japan, United States, Gaza, Israel, Ukraine, North Korea, South, East China, Taiwan, Beijing, U.S, East Asia

☆ Jeff Bezos and fiancée Lauren Sánchez were among the top tech bosses and business leaders to attend a lavish White House dinner
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Alexandra Bacon | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The former Amazon CEO joined over 200 other guests at a White House state dinner on Wednesday. President Joe Biden hosted the dinner in honor of the Prime Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida. Other guests in attendance included Apple CEO Tim Cook and JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon. AdvertisementJeff Bezos, founder and former CEO of Amazon, and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez, a former news anchor and philanthropist, joined 200 other guests at a White House state dinner on Wednesday. Jill Biden had the State Floor of the White House transformed into what she dubbed a "vibrant spring garden" for the event.

Persons: Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Tim Cook, Morgan's Jamie Dimon, —, Jeff Bezos, Lauren Sanchez, Fumio, Jamie Dimon, Larry Fink, Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Robert DeNiro, Masayoshi Son, Ken Kobayashi, Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, Jill Biden, India Narendra Modi, Sam Altman, Sundar Pichai Organizations: Amazon, House, Japan, Apple, Service, BlackRock, Mitsubishi, The Washington Post, White, Google Locations: India

☆ Biden Aims to Project United Front Against China at White House Summit
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden intends to use a first-ever joint meeting with the leaders of Japan and the Philippines on Thursday to send a blunt diplomatic message to an increasingly aggressive China: Beijing’s harassment of Philippine ships in the South China Sea is a violation of international law and must stop. In recent months, Chinese coast guard ships have been ramming Philippine vessels, blasting them with water cannons and aiming lasers at their crews in what the United States condemns as “coercive and unlawful tactics” in one of the most crucial waterways in the world. So far, the Chinese provocations, asserting disputed claims to the international waters, have fallen short of the kinds of attacks that would trigger the military defense pact that the United States and the Philippines signed in 1951. But Biden administration officials said the meeting of the three leaders on Thursday is intended to demonstrate to China even stronger military and diplomatic unity among the leaders of the three allies. One U.S. official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss the meeting in advance, called the issue of security in the South China Sea a “pillar” of the discussions between Mr. Biden, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines.

Persons: Biden, Fumio Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: Biden, U.S Locations: Japan, Philippines, China, South China, United States, South

☆ Biden’s China tariff threats are more bark than bite, economists say
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

U.S. President Joe Biden attends a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at Filoli estate on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, in Woodside, California, U.S., November 15, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin LamarqueThe Biden administration this week sent several signals of a toughening U.S. economic strategy against China. Earlier in the week, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivered tougher economic red lines on a visit to China. China has so far denied the overcapacity accusation as "groundless" and fired back that the U.S. is threatening protectionist trade policies to stifle global competition. "It remains unclear what this relationship will endure in the months and years ahead," Yellen said at a press conference in Beijing on Monday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, Kevin Lamarque, Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Janet Yellen, Yellen, CNBC's Sara Eisen, Republican Donald Trump Organizations: Economic Cooperation, REUTERS, China, Japanese, U.S ., Biden, EU, U.S, Republican Locations: Filoli, Asia, Woodside , California, U.S, Washington, Japan, China, United States, Beijing

☆ To Counter China’s Rising Power, Biden Looks to Strengthen Ties With Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The United States and Japan, faced with the challenges posed by an increasingly hostile China, are expected to further integrate their militaries and announce new agreements on technology and defense on Wednesday as President Biden hosts Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit to Washington. The talks are part of the Biden administration’s diplomatic outreach to counter China, which includes recent war games with Seoul. On Thursday, Mr. Biden and Mr. Kishida will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines, another Pacific islands nation that finds itself the target of a mounting Chinese military presence in the South China Sea. The Biden administration is signaling the importance of its relationship with Tokyo by holding an official state dinner on Wednesday evening in honor of Mr. Kishida, something reserved for America’s closest allies. During a day of meetings, the two leaders will announce new plans designed to confront the far-reaching ambitions of China, which Mr. Biden has described as the only global rival to the United States with the “intent to reshape the international order and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to advance that objective.”

Persons: Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: Biden, Seoul Locations: States, Japan, China, Washington, Philippines, South China, Tokyo, United States

☆ Biden’s State Dinner for Japan Was Heavy on Symbolism (and Yes, Cherry Blossoms)
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: 1 min

It was all very polite. Ambassadors, billionaires, a smattering of Biden family members and even one former president were all in attendance at the fifth state dinner President Biden and Jill Biden, the first lady, have held since taking office. The gauzy celebration leaned heavily into Japanese fans, cherry blossoms and other tokens of the softer side of the U.S.-Japan relationship. The substance of the state visit of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was focused on finding ways to counter China, but the style of the dinner was all about highlighting a capital city that owes its springtime resplendence, in large part, to the diplomatic overtures of the Japanese.

Persons: Biden, Jill Biden, Fumio Kishida Organizations: U.S . Locations: U.S, Japan, China

☆ Biden Pulls Closer to Japan to Counter China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Matthew Cullen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden today hosted Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, at the White House for a pomp-filled state visit. The tightening of the U.S.-Japan relationship is an important part of the Biden administration’s efforts to counter China’s aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific region. Tomorrow, Biden and Kishida will meet with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. of the Philippines. Biden and Kishida today outlined the formation of a joint defense council that could support more exports of equipment produced in Japan, new cooperation on ventures in space and collaboration between research institutions. Biden announced that NASA’s Artemis program would take a Japanese astronaut to the moon, which would be a first for a non-American.

Persons: Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, —, Paul Simon, Donald Trump, Ferdinand Marcos Jr Organizations: White, U.S ., Biden Locations: U.S, Japan, Philippines

☆ Steak, cherry blossoms and Paul Simon will be featured at the White House state dinner for Japan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden welcome Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuko Kishida to the White House on April 9, 2024 in Washington, DC. Dry-aged rib eye steak, cherry blossoms and the music of Paul Simon are on tap for more than 200 guests who are expected to attend a swanky White House state dinner on Wednesday to celebrate the relationship between the United States and Japan. A lavish state dinner is a tool of U.S. diplomacy, a high honor that is doled out sparingly and only to America's closest allies. In the case of Japan, President Joe Biden has chosen to celebrate an ally that he sees as a cornerstone of his policy toward the Indo-Pacific region. Biden and his wife, Jill, are hosting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his wife, Yuko, during the couple's official visit to the United States this week.

Persons: Joe Biden, Jill Biden, Fumio Kishida, Yuko Kishida, Paul Simon, Biden, Jill, Yuko Organizations: White, U.S Locations: Washington , DC, United States, Japan

☆ Biden Says U.S. Is Considering Dropping Its Case Against Assange
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Erica L. Green | More About Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden said on Wednesday that the United States was considering dropping its prosecution of Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder who has been jailed in London for years while fighting extradition to face U.S. charges related to his publication of classified documents. Mr. Biden made the comment on the case of the embattled publisher, who is being detained in a high-security prison, in response to a question about a request from Mr. Assange’s home country of Australia that he be allowed to return there. “We’re considering it,” Mr. Biden said at the White House, where he was hosting Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan. Mr. Assange has been jailed for nearly five years after being indicted by the United States with 18 counts of violating the Espionage Act for publishing thousands of documents detailing secret military operations and diplomatic intelligence, as well as revelations about the civilian death tolls in the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Persons: Biden, Julian Assange, Assange’s, “, ” Mr, Fumio Kishida, Assange Organizations: WikiLeaks, White Locations: United States, London, Australia, Japan, U.S, Iraq, Afghanistan

☆ Who’s coming to the White House’s Japan state dinner: the Clintons, De Niro, Bezos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The guest list also includes Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell, who is the president of the White House Correspondents Association, will attend, as well as Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin. First lady Jill Biden chose Simon to perform at the state dinner because Kishida also “shares an appreciation” for his work, a White House official said. The state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol featured a Broadway star’s performance of Don McLean’s “American Pie” – a personal favorite of Yoon. It led to one of the iconic state dinner moments of the Biden presidency – Yoon picking up a microphone to serenade guests with a few lines from the song.

Persons: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Robert De Niro, Jeff Bezos, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tim Cook, Laurence Fink, Jamie Dimon, Brad Smith, Shawn Fain, Cecile Richards, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Alejandro Mayorkas, Jennifer Granholm, Gina Raimondo, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Katherine Tai, United Nations Linda Thomas, Jeff Zients, CQ, Jerome Powell, Bill Nelson, Biden, Donald Trump, De Niro, Nelson, ” Nelson, Sen, Bill Hagerty, Trump, Rahm Emanuel, Kelly O’Donnell, Josh Rogin, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Kathy Hochul, Josh Shapiro, Tony Evers, Roy Cooper of, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, Finnegan Biden, Naomi Biden Neal, Peter Neal, Paul Simon, Jill Biden, Simon, Kishida, ”, It’s, Yoon Suk, Don McLean’s, Yoon, – Yoon, CNN’s Arlette Saenz Organizations: CNN, Amazon, White, Japan’s, Apple, BlackRock, JPMorgan, Microsoft, United Auto Workers, Planned, Biden, Homeland, Senate, Energy, National Intelligence, US, United Nations, White House, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Federal, NASA, Tennessee Republican, NBC, White House Correspondents Association, Washington, Democratic, Gov, Pennsylvania, South Korean Locations: Japanese American, Greenfield, Cleveland , Ohio, Japan, New York, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Hawaii, Oregon

☆ What Biden and Kishida Agreed To in Their Effort to Bolster Ties
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Michael D. Shear | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

What Biden and Kishida Agreed To in Their Effort to Bolster TiesAs they look to contain an increasingly aggressive China, the United States and Japan announced dozens of new agreements, including on military, economic, climate and space matters. Share full articleVideo transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:00 - 0:00 transcript Biden Hosts Japan’s Prime Minister at the White House President Biden called the United States and Japan “the closest of friends” during a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Instead, we made a far better choice: We became the closest of friends. Mr. Prime Minister, Mr. Kishida, welcome back to the White House. President Biden called the United States and Japan “the closest of friends” during a welcoming ceremony for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

Persons: Biden, ”, Fumio Kishida, Kishida, Fumio, Shuran Huang Organizations: Japan’s, White House, House, Credit, The New York Locations: China, United States, Japan

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