Biden forges new partnership with Japan’s Kishida, eyeing China, Russia | Wilnesh News

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled plans on Wednesday for military cooperation and projects ranging from missiles to moon landings, strengthening their alliance and eyeing a fight against China and Russia.

The joint news conference at the White House reflected Japan’s growing importance on the world stage and to the United States, with the two leaders weighing in on Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and Russia, North Korea and other hot-button issues around the world.

Biden and Kishida brushed off the controversy over Nippon Steel’s takeover of U.S. Steel Corp., saying the issue was not a major factor in their discussions that day at the White House with pomp and pageantry, culminating in a lavish state dinner. .

“This is the most significant escalation of our alliance since its inception,” Biden said after about two hours of talks that focused on the volatile Indo-Pacific region and China’s actions.

The United States and its allies, including Japan, have been beefing up their military capabilities to counter what they see as China’s growing threat in the South and East China Seas and to thwart any attempts to seize self-ruled Taiwan. An island that Beijing considers its own.

Kishida said the two leaders discussed tensions between Taiwan and China and pledged to uphold an international order based on the rule of law.Chinese President Xi Jinping recently Talk about external interference There is no way to prevent “family reunions” on the island with mainland China.

“Attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force or coercion are absolutely unacceptable wherever they are,” Kishida said. He said the United States and Japan would continue to respond to such actions, including challenges from China.

“Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine… Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow,” Kishida said.

Biden also vowed to maintain open lines of communication with China and said the U.S.-Japan alliance is defensive in nature. He spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week.

Biden and Kishida’s announcement brings the two World War II foes into their closest cooperation since becoming allies decades ago.

Biden said the two countries’ militaries will work with joint command structures and will work with Australia to develop a new air missile defense network. The two leaders also announced that Japanese astronauts will participate in NASA’s lunar mission.

Overall, the United States and Japan have finalized About 70 agreements Defense cooperation, including upgrading the command structure of U.S. forces in Japan so that it can better cooperate with Japanese forces in crises.

Japan is often described as the United States’ most important Asian ally and largest source of foreign direct investment, but it is competing with the United States. strengthen global role That comes after a series of security law changes over the past decade transformed its pacifist constitution.

Kishida will address the U.S. Congress on Thursday and join Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in a meeting expected to focus on Beijing’s South China Sea incursions.

The meeting comes as China ramps up pressure on the Philippines in the South China Sea, areas claimed by Beijing but considered part of the Philippines under international law.

A U.S. official said China was trying to isolate Japan and the Philippines. Biden is meeting the leaders of both countries in Washington this week with the aim of “flipping the script and isolating China.”

Fitch Ratings on Wednesday downgraded China’s sovereign credit rating outlook to negative, citing growing uncertainty as the country’s economy transitions to a new growth model, posing risks to public finances.

On Thursday, Biden will also hold a bilateral meeting with Mr. Marcos, whom he hosted in Washington last year, before the two join Mr. Kishida for a trilateral summit.

The visit could provide Kishida with a political boost. Popularity has waned at home.

He received a warm welcome before a lavish state dinner, with Japanese flags flying across Washington, and guests including former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Robert De Niro, amazon.com’s Jeff Bezos and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell.

Musician Paul Simon provided the after-dinner entertainment, opening his set with a performance of “Graceland.”

Casting a shadow over the visit are concerns over planned $15 billion acquisition United States Steel Corporation go through Nippon Steel CorporationSome called the deal “on life support” after criticism from Biden and former President Donald Trump, his rival in November’s US election.

Asked about the deal, Kishida said he hoped discussions on the deal would come to fruition.

“We hope to solidify this win-win relationship,” he said.

Biden said he stood by his commitment to union workers on the issue.

Japanese are also concerned that Trump could be re-elected if he wins. Seeking a deal with China This could destabilize the region.