Kishida made the remarks days ahead of his Wednesday meeting with Biden in Washington, where he will also address a joint session of Congress and participate in the very first trilateral summit between Japan, the United States and the Philippines.
Partnership with Japan has long been central to US strategy in the Indo-Pacific, but the defense relationship has expanded under Kishida, who has raised Japan’s profile in global and regional security.
That move is not without controversy, especially in China and other parts of Asia that suffered hugely under Japan’s World War II era militarism.
Building Japan’s deterrence and response capability is also “essential” for the alliance with the United States, he argued.
Since taking office, Kishida has also positioned Japan as a partner to the US not only in Asia, but more globally.
Persons:
Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, ” Kishida, ”, Kishida, “, Biden, Donald Trump, White, Trump, Kim Jong
Organizations:
Tokyo CNN, CNN, Biden, Partnership, East China, South Korea –, North, South
Locations:
Japan, Ukraine, East Asia, Tokyo, United States, Washington, Philippines, Russia, South, Taiwan, China, Asia, East, South China, South Korea, America’s, Europe, North Korea, Moscow, Pyongyang