Biden Kishida strategic partnership, North Korea-Japan summit under US-Japan military alliance system
At the summit between Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden, the ‘Kishida Biden Strategic Alliance’ was confirmed as an attempt to hold a North Korea-Japan summit under the US-Japan military alliance system.
At the U.S.-Japan Washington summit, an agreement was reached to continue the North Korea-Japan summit based on the ‘Japanese weapons export system to the U.S.’ and the upgrading of Japan’s military power.
A senior U.S. government official told the New York Times on the 7th that President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida will discuss forming a joint defense council to export additional Japanese-made Patriots, cruise missiles, and trainers for fighter pilots and to upgrade the command system of U.S. forces in Japan.
Prime Minister Kishida held a press conference before leaving for the summit with President Biden and said, “I am willing to meet with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un ‘without preconditions’ in order to improve the strained relationship with the nuclear-armed regime.” He added, “Establishing a beneficial relationship is important for Japan.” “It will not only benefit North Korea and North Korea, but will also greatly contribute to regional peace and stability,” he said.
Prime Minister Kishida said in an interview with some foreign media outlets, including AP, "Cooperation in the defense industry between Japan and the United States and with like-minded countries is very important," and "I hope that we will continue to improve deterrence and response capabilities within the United States and Japan." said
Reuters reported, “Japanese Prime Minister Kishida said on Friday that he wants to cooperate with the United States’ shared allies South Korea and the Philippines, and even with North Korea to promote regional security.”
Regarding the meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden, Reuters said, “Japan’s participation in NASA’s Artemis lunar program, contribution to the lunar probe developed by Toyota Motor Company, and participation of astronauts will be confirmed,” and “The Toyota probe, which costs $2 billion, will be confirmed.” “This is the most expensive partnership to date that a non-American country has contributed to the mission,” the report quoted the official as saying.
Prior to the meeting, the US-Japan military alliance held trilateral military exercises with the Philippines in the South China Sea and will be expanded to include a trilateral summit between the US and Japan and the Philippines in Washington.
Commenting on the trilateral summit, a U.S. official said, “The United States gave China a clear message: ‘We (the United States, Japan, and the Philippines) are three fully aligned maritime democracies that share the same views on how the South China Sea should be governed under international law.’” “We are trying to send a signal,” he said, according to Reuters.
During this visit, Prime Minister Kishida visited Taiwan's TSMC semiconductor factory built in Kumamoto ahead of Japan's visit to the U.S. to gain the understanding of the American people no matter who wins this year's presidential election. Reuters said it was confirming its alliance.
Prime Minister Kishida then announced a visit to the United States, including a visit to a Toyota electric vehicle battery plant scheduled to be launched in 2025 and a Honda business jet subsidiary in North Carolina.
Regarding the Biden-Kishida summit, Reuters continued, “It will bring about a ‘historic’ upgrade in the defense relationship between the long-standing allies.” “The two leaders will discuss ways to reform the U.S. military command in Japan so that it can better function with the Japanese military in times of crisis, and discuss military and “It is expected that we will announce measures to expand joint development and joint production of defense equipment,” he said.
Reuters continued, “Japan has pledged to double its defense spending to 2% of GDP, which could make it the world’s third-largest military spender,” adding, “The plan includes hundreds of cruise missiles to hit targets as far as 1,000 km (620 miles).” “The U.S. will grant the shipyard a role as a potential production base for military supplies, including the Patriot PAC3 missile system, to be procured and re-exported to Ukraine by Japan, and as a major repair and modification yard for U.S. warships,” it said.
Regarding Prime Minister Kishida's summit with President Biden and his speech to the U.S. Congress, he said, "The two leaders will discuss close military cooperation between the U.S. military and the Japanese military stationed in Japan," and "through cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI), space technology, and semiconductors." “There is a possibility that Japan will make more weapons and export them to the United States,” the NYT said.
“Military cooperation in particular smacks of preparing for the future,” Tobias Harris, head of Japan Foresight, a Washington-based political risk advisory firm, told the NYT.
NYT said, “With President Biden facing a fierce re-election race against his predecessor and Prime Minister Kishida’s approval rating falling to an all-time low due to a political scandal, the leaders of the two countries are expected to discuss ways to keep the alliance strong even if it cannot be strengthened.” , Professor Narushige Michishita of the Department of International Relations at the Tokyo National University of Policy Studies evaluated the goal as "creating a situation in which no one can resolve their relationship," Prime Minister Kishida's Biden election support system revealed.
Regarding Japan's response to the possibility of a regime change by election, the NYT said, "The risk of rapid change appears to be much higher on the U.S. side, and Japanese officials, members of Congress, and media outlets use the acronym 'probably' for the former president and current Republican candidate." It was revealed that they began referring to him as ‘Trump’ (Moshi Torah) and ‘Candidate Trump’ (Hobo Torah).
NYT said, “Japanese officials are preparing for a possible change in U.S. foreign policy,” and “On the Japanese side, even if Prime Minister Kishida does not survive the party leadership election this fall, he is expected to take control of the government at least until the next general election and beyond. “It means that there is unlikely to be a major change in the policy pledges of the Kishida regime,” the report said, declaring it a “strategic partnership” with the Biden regime.
Prime Minister Kishida said in a CNN interview on the 7th, "The Japanese government is making a 'high-level approach' to North Korea for a summit between North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un," and that the purpose of promoting the North Korea-Japan summit was to "resolve unresolved issues and promote stable relations between the two countries." “To do this,” he said.
Prime Minister Kishida continued, "There are countries in our neighborhood that are developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, there are countries that are increasing their defense capabilities in an opaque manner, and there are attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas." “I think it is important to show the world that the United States and Japan will further develop cooperation through this visit,” he said.
When asked if he was concerned about former President Trump coming back to power, Prime Minister Kishida said, "Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, I think it is important to make sure the American people recognize the importance of Japan-US relations."
On the 29th of last month, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department commented on 'North Korea stated that it had no intention of contacting Japan, but Prime Minister Kishida repeatedly expressed his intention to pursue a summit with North Korea', saying, "We emphasize the importance of dialogue and diplomacy with North Korea." “We have been very clear about the importance of dialogue and diplomacy with the DPRK,” he told VOA.