President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are poised to hold wide-ranging talks at the White House today, January 13, 2023 as Japan seeks to build security cooperation with allies amid growing concerns about provocative Chinese and North Korean military action.
Also, the two administrations are ready to seal an agreement to reinforce U.S.-Japanese cooperation on space with a signing ceremony by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa.
The Oval Office meeting and signing ceremony at NASA’s Washington headquarters will climax a weeklong tour for Kishida that took him to five European and North American capitals for discussions on his effort to strengthen Japan’s security.
It all comes as Japan announced plans last month to raise defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product in five years, a dramatic increase in spending for a nation that forged a pacifist approach to its defense after World War II.
Japan’s defense spending has historically remained below 1% of GDP.
White House National Security Council Spokesman, John Kirby opined, “Japan is stepping up and doing so in lockstep with the United States.”
Secretary of State, Antony Blinken disclosed earlier this week that the U.S.-Japan space cooperation framework was a “decade in the making” and “covers everything from joint research to working together to land the first woman and person of color on the moon.”
Blinken added that the U.S. and Japan are in agreement that China is their “greatest shared strategic challenge” and confirmed that an attack in space would trigger a mutual defense provision in the U.S.-Japan security treaty.
Ahead of today’s meeting of the two leaders, U.S. and Japanese officials announced a modification to the American troop presence on the island of Okinawa in part to enhance anti-ship capabilities that would be needed in the event of a Chinese invasion into Taiwan or other hostile acts in the region.
Japan is also reinforcing defenses on its southwestern islands close to Taiwan, including Yonaguni and Ishigaki, where new bases are being constructed.
Japan’s decision to step up defense spending and coordination comes amid growing concerns that China could take military action to seize Taiwan and worry that North Korea’s spike in missile testing could augur the isolated nation achieving its nuclear ambitions.
Opportunity To Confirm Close Cooperation
Just before leaving Japan for his five-country tour, Kishida disclosed that the talks with Biden “will be a precious opportunity to confirm our close cooperation in further strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance and our endeavor together toward achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific.”
Kishida’s meeting with Biden is the final face-to-face in a week of talks with fellow Group of Seven leaders that focused largely on his efforts to increase Japan’s defense spending and urge leaders to improve cooperation.
With Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Kishida established Japan’s first defense agreement with a European nation, one that allows for the two countries to hold joint military exercises.
Kishida also discussed with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni and French President Emmanuel Macron his hopes to improve security cooperation between Japan and their respective nations. Germany was the only G7 country that was not on Kishida’s itinerary.
Biden administration officials have hailed Japan for taking steps in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Japan was quick to join the U.S. and other Western allies in mounting aggressive sanctions on Moscow, and Japanese automakers Mazda, Toyota and Nissan announced their withdrawal from Russia.
Kishida is scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris ahead of his meeting with Biden.
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