Biden, Japan's Kishida to meet at White House on Jan 13
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US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will discuss "a range of regional and global issues".
PHOTOS: REUTERS, AFP
WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the White House on Jan 13 to discuss North Korea, Ukraine, China’s tensions with Taiwan, and a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, the White House said on Tuesday.
The two leaders will discuss “a range of regional and global issues including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait”, the White House said, using the North’s official name.
The meeting between Washington and its key Asian partner in standing up to China’s increasing might comes as North Korea’s missile tests and calls for a larger nuclear arsenal worry US allies in the region.
Mr Kishida announced his US visit in a nationally televised New Year news conference on Wednesday. He said he will discuss Tokyo’s new security policy and reaffirm close ties with the US.
In December, Japan unveiled its biggest military build-up since World War II, and the White House said Mr Biden will reiterate his full support for Japan’s plans.
“The leaders will celebrate the unprecedented strength of the US-Japan Alliance and will set the course for their partnership in the year ahead,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement on Tuesday.
On a visit to Japan in May, Mr Biden applauded Mr Kishida’s determination to strengthen Japanese defence capabilities.
Japan’s US$320 billion (S$430 billion) defence plan includes the purchase of missiles capable of striking China and readying the country for sustained conflict, amid concerns that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could embolden China to move against self-ruled Taiwan, a neighbour of Japan.
Japan hosts the Group of Seven nations in 2023, including a leaders’ summit in May in Hiroshima that Mr Biden plans to attend.
The grouping, which includes Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Canada, has been a focus of Mr Biden’s efforts to revitalise US alliances to counter threats from China to Russia and beyond.
“The meeting with President Biden will be more than just a huddle on Japan’s G-7 chair takeover,” Mr Kishida said.
Japan also took up a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council on Jan 1 and holds the rotating monthly presidency of the 15-member body for January.
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi told a Reuters Next conference in December that Japan will use its G-7 and UN leadership roles to pressure Russia to halt its war in Ukraine.
Mr Christopher Johnstone, head of the Japan programme at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Mr Kishida’s visit would reinforce Japan’s stature as America’s most critical ally in the Indo-Pacific.
He said Mr Kishida would seek Mr Biden’s endorsement of his national security and defence strategies, and in particular support for its acquisition of counterstrike capabilities. “Japan’s defence strategy calls for the introduction of US-made Tomahawk cruise missiles in the near term, but does not specify a timeline. Kishida will look for (Biden’s) support to move quickly.
“They will also focus heavily on ‘economic security’ issues related to China, including cooperation on export controls for sensitive technologies like semiconductors.”
REUTERS
