The leaders outlined plans to reorganize US military leadership in Japan.
President of the United States Joe Biden and the Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida announced that they would update the defense cooperation between the countries when the Japanese minister visited the White House on Wednesday.
Biden and Kishida shared their plans to reorganize the US military leadership in Japan. The goal of the change is to make the US and Japanese forces more agile in crises, such as a possible Chinese attack on Taiwan.
– This is the most significant update to our alliance since its inception, Biden said at a press conference with Kishida.
Biden also praised Japan for significantly increasing defense spending. The two countries have intensified their cooperation in the field of economy and defense during Kishida’s term as prime minister.
The US president described the two countries’ relations as unbreakable and said their agreements on Wednesday set a new milestone for military cooperation between the two countries.
– The unbreakable alliance between Japan and the United States is the cornerstone of peace, security and success in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world, Biden said when welcoming Kishida at the opening ceremony of the visit.
Biden assured that the update of defense cooperation is completely defensive. The president also said the update does not target any nation or threat in the region. Kishida, on the other hand, called for peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait at the press conference.
Kishida’s visit to Washington continues until Thursday, when the prime minister attends a joint US-Philippines-Japan summit. China’s increased aggressive activity in the Indo-Pacific region will affect the discussions at the summit.
Sources: AFP, AP