Mr. Kishida made the comments in an interview at his private residence in Tokyo on April 7, ahead of an important summit with US President Joe Biden on April 10 in Washington.
The Japanese prime minister stressed that, in the face of growing security challenges, the Japan-US alliance is becoming "more important than ever", a view he hopes will attract bipartisan support in Washington.
US President Joe Biden welcomes Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the White House on January 13, 2023 in Washington, DC. Photo: GI
The April 10 summit was described by Washington as a historic opportunity for Japan and the United States to modernize their alliance as both keep an eye on geopolitical uncertainties in the region and the world.
The partnership with Japan has long been a centerpiece of US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region. The relationship has expanded under Prime Minister Kishida, who has elevated Japan’s position in regional and global security.
Since taking office as prime minister in 2021, Kishida has made sweeping changes to Japan's defense posture, aiming to increase defense spending to about 2% of GDP by 2027 and strengthen its military.
Asked about the change, Kishida pointed to the “severe and complex” security environment surrounding Japan, such as “countries developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons” and “other countries building up their defense capabilities in an unclear manner.” He also mentioned issues in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea.
Given the complex security issues, the Japanese Prime Minister believes that building Japan's deterrence and response capabilities is essential in its alliance with the United States.
"I hope the US will understand this and we can work together to improve peace and stability in the region. I think it is important to show the rest of the world that the US and Japan will further develop cooperation through the upcoming visit," Kishida said.
The summit on April 10 will also serve as a platform for expanding cooperation between Japan and another important US partner in Asia, the Philippines.
The trilateral meeting comes less than a year after a groundbreaking meeting between the United States, Japan and South Korea. Both summits underscored Japan’s central role in the United States’ Indo-Pacific security strategy and called for increased coordination with allies and partners amid rising regional tensions.
Hoai Phuong (according to CNN)
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