President Joe Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit on April 10, with the goal of strengthening a critical alliance as the United States has sought to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Quick Read
Key Points of President Biden’s Upcoming State Visit with Japan’s Prime Minister:
- Date of State Visit: President Joe Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit on April 10.
- Objective of the Visit: The visit aims to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance, particularly in the context of countering China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
- Inclusions in the Visit: The visit will feature a formal state dinner, highlighting the significance of the event.
- Biden’s Previous Visits to Japan: President Biden has visited Japan twice during his presidency, including a trip to Hiroshima for the G7 summit.
- Economic and Security Interests: The visit comes amid the U.S. government’s review of the national security implications of the potential acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel.
- Possible Discussion Topics: While the steel merger’s review might not be a primary subject, Biden and Kishida are expected to discuss a range of issues in Asia.
- Focus on Regional Cooperation: Enhancing cooperation with South Korea and improving alliance capabilities are likely to be key topics of discussion during the state visit.
- Comments from John Kirby: John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, emphasized the importance of deepening bilateral cooperation and alliance capabilities with Japan.
The state visit underscores the strategic importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship in maintaining stability and countering rising challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, with potential impacts on regional security and economic dynamics.
The Associated Press has the story:
Biden will host Japan’s PM Kishida in April to strengthen Indo-Pacific alliances
Newslooks- WASHINGTON (AP) —
President Joe Biden will host Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a state visit on April 10, with the goal of strengthening a critical alliance as the United States has sought to counter China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region.
John Kirby, the White House national security spokesman, told reporters aboard Air Force One that the visit will include a formal state dinner.
As president, Biden has visited Japan twice, most recently going to the city of Hiroshima last May for the Group of 7 summit among major industrialized nations. Kishida’s visit comes as the federal government is reviewing the national security implications of Japan’s Nippon Steel plans to acquire the Pittsburgh-based company U.S. Steel for roughly $14.1 billion.
Kirby declined to say whether the government’s review of that potential merger would be a subject at the state visit. He said that Biden and Kishida will likely discuss a range of issues in Asia, including how to improve cooperation with South Korea.
“I think you can expect to see a robust discussion about how we’re deepening our bilateral cooperation with Japan, improving our alliance capabilities across the board,” Kirby said. “There will be a lot to discuss.”
