During a state visit to Washington by Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, he and US President Joe Biden committed to enhancing their defence collaboration to address potential threats from China.
Their discussions led to the announcement of several initiatives, including the expansion of an air defence system that will also involve Australia, and the inclusion of a Japanese astronaut in NASA‘s Artemis moon missions, marking the first time a non-American will step on the lunar surface.
In a statement from the White House’s Rose Garden, Biden emphasized the significance of these agreements as a major advancement in the US-Japan alliance.
The talks, which lasted around two hours, predominantly covered defence strategies in the Indo-Pacific region, the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and concerns over North Korea, Taiwan, and China.
Kishida stressed the importance of upholding an international order grounded in the rule of law and firmly rejected any forceful or coercive attempts to alter the status quo.
As part of their defence agreements, the US and Japan plan to set up a joint command structure and develop a combined air and missile defence system with Australia, including tri-nation military drills with UK participation.
Despite the focus on China, Kishida mentioned the necessity of dialogue and cooperation with China on mutual challenges.
The space cooperation agreement between the two nations involves Japan supplying a pressurized lunar rover for NASA’s Artemis missions, with two Japanese astronauts participating, one of whom will become the first non-American to land on the moon.
Biden and Kishida also touched upon economic ties, with Biden expressing support for American workers in light of Japan’s Nippon Steel acquiring US Steel.
Biden highlighted the strength of the US-Japan friendship and the positive impact of Japanese investments in the US, which employs over a million Americans. Kishida, echoing Biden’s sentiments, looked forward to strengthening the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
The visit concluded with a state dinner where both leaders celebrated the enduring partnership between their nations, with Kishida citing John F. Kennedy’s words on the Pacific Ocean’s role in uniting the US and Japan.
