Kishida Hopes To Confirm Japan, Us Will Boost Deterrence Capabilities
Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and US President Joe Biden are to meet in Japan next week, amid China's increasingly assertive activities.
Kishida wants to confirm with Biden that Japan and the US will take steps to beef up their deterrence and response capabilities.
The meeting of the two leaders is scheduled for next Monday. This will be Biden's first visit to Japan as president. Key topics at the meeting are expected to include China's moves in the East China Sea, as well as its economic coercion.
The talks come at a time when China is showing its reluctance to explicitly criticize Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Kishida hopes to agree with Biden that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force anywhere in the world is unacceptable.
Kishida will likely convey Japan's readiness to fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities. His ruling Liberal Democratic Party has proposed that Japan possess "counterattack capability" against ballistic missile threats and it has also called for an increase in defense expenditures.
Their discussions will also likely cover the US commitment to provide extended deterrence for Japan, using its conventional and nuclear capabilities.
The Japanese and US leaders are expected to confirm their commitment to providing support for Ukraine as well as placing heavy sanctions on Russia, in tandem with other G7 members.
They will also likely reaffirm the importance of calling on countries in Asia and Africa to work closely together on the matter.