US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hold virtual talks.
Washington:
US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida agreed to “push back” China and condemn North Korea’s repeated missile tests, while Mr. Biden emphasized the US commitment to defend Japan, in virtual talks on Friday.
During a video conference that lasted about an hour and 20 minutes, Biden also agreed to travel to Japan later this spring for an official visit and summit of the Quartet, which includes high-level groups from Australia, India and Japan. Japan and the United States. US official said.
Biden has made it a priority to restore the importance of the US-Japan relationship since coming to power exactly a year ago, after his predecessor Donald Trump questioned the interests of longstanding US alliances in the US. both Asia and Europe.
After the meeting, which took place by video link behind closed doors, Biden tweeted that it was an honor to meet Prime Minister Kishida to further strengthen the US-Japan Alliance – the foundation of peace and security in Indo-Pacific and worldwide,” using an alternative name for the Asia-Pacific region.
Much of the discussion is about the growing strategic challenge from China, which has spooked the region near Taiwan, a self-declared independent nation that Beijing claims as part of its territory – will be recaptured by force someday, if necessary.
The US official said Biden and Kishida expressed concern about China’s “threatening” neighbors.
“The two leaders are determined to push back against efforts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to change the status quo in the East China Sea and South China Sea” and also “emphasize the importance of peace and stability.” over the Taiwan Strait,” the White House’s official statement after the meeting said.
Biden and Kishida expressed “concern” about China’s “practices” in Xinjiang province – where the United States believes China is committing genocide against the Uighurs – and in Hong Kong.
Regarding Japan’s dispute with China over the uninhabited but strategically located Senkaku Islands, Biden “affirms the steadfast commitment of the United States to the defense of Japan, using the full capabilities of myself,” the report said.
– Tensions North Korea, Ukraine –
Another security challenge high on the agenda is North Korea, which has a tight schedule of missile tests this year – contrary to UN sanctions – and on Thursday. suggested the country might even resume nuclear and intercontinental missile tests.
“The two leaders condemned the recent ballistic missile launches,” the White House said, while a Japanese attending the meeting said they described the North Korean activity as a “threat to the United States.” peace and stability of Japan, the region and the international community.”
Highlighting rising tensions around Russia’s build-up of a large military force on Ukraine’s border, Biden and Kishida said they were working “closely together to deter Russian aggression.”
“Prime Minister Kishida is committed to continuing to work closely with the United States, other allies and partners, and the international community on strong action in response to any attack,” the White House said.
In the Japanese news release, they said they were “committed to working closely together to prevent Russian aggression towards Ukraine.”
In the wake of this virtual incident, US officials emphasized the goal of forging an alliance that has underpinned US leadership across the entire Asia-Pacific region since World War II.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden and Kishida were discussing economic ties, as well as security, and a “free and open Indo-Pacific” – alluding to the impetus to maintain the status quo. in the Asia-Pacific region, despite China’s rapidly expanding military and commercial power, including along important sea lanes of trade.
Biden hosted then-Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as his first foreign leader in the White House, and after Kishida took office, Biden was the first foreign leader to call.
The senior US official called the meeting “particularly broad, very warm and wide-ranging”, saying it showed the “solidarity” of the countries.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and was automatically generated from the feed provided.)
