Japan-US leaders meet and agree to beef up deterrence
May 19, 2023
by Koji Higuchi, Staff Writer
On May 18, prior to the start in Hiroshima City of the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations), Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima, in the city’s centrally located Naka Ward. The two leaders agreed that expanded deterrence, including with the U.S. “nuclear umbrella,” and enhancement of Japan’s defense capabilities are essential for securing peace and stability in the region. The two leaders also shared their understanding about how to handle the situation in Ukraine, among other issues.
The meet today was the first gathering of the two leaders since January earlier this year, when they met in Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Kishida, chair of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, emphasized his ideas about the summit. “I hope to demonstrate the G7’s firm determination to protect a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” he said. In response, Mr. Biden praised “the progress made on G7 agenda items under Japan’s leadership.” Mr. Biden also indicated his idea that the United States and Japan should together hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine.
Given Russia’s repeated threats of the use of nuclear weapons and North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development, the two leaders agreed on strengthening the Japan-U.S. and the Japan-U.S.-South Korea deterrence capabilities. At the same time, however, Mr. Kishida conveyed his desire to increase momentum toward achievement of “a world without nuclear weapons” and asked for Mr. Biden’s views on the issue.
In addition, in light of the situation in the Taiwan Strait, Mr. Kishida reportedly confirmed the two nations’ policy of cooperation vis-à-vis China. On the economic front, citing the U.S. semiconductor giant Micron, with a subsidiary plant in Higashihiroshima City, the Prime Minister said, “Japan will firmly support the company as a shining example of Japan-U.S. semiconductor cooperation.”
Meanwhile, prior to the meeting between the two leaders, Jacob Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor to President Biden, said in response to a question regarding whether the president was planning to apologize for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima during his visit to Peace Memorial Park (in the city’s Naka Ward), “We will likely not be issuing any statement.”
(Originally published on May 19, 2023)
On May 18, prior to the start in Hiroshima City of the summit meeting of the G7 (Group of Seven industrialized nations), Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with U.S. President Joe Biden at the RIHGA Royal Hotel Hiroshima, in the city’s centrally located Naka Ward. The two leaders agreed that expanded deterrence, including with the U.S. “nuclear umbrella,” and enhancement of Japan’s defense capabilities are essential for securing peace and stability in the region. The two leaders also shared their understanding about how to handle the situation in Ukraine, among other issues.
The meet today was the first gathering of the two leaders since January earlier this year, when they met in Washington, D.C. At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Kishida, chair of the G7 Hiroshima Summit, emphasized his ideas about the summit. “I hope to demonstrate the G7’s firm determination to protect a free and open international order based on the rule of law,” he said. In response, Mr. Biden praised “the progress made on G7 agenda items under Japan’s leadership.” Mr. Biden also indicated his idea that the United States and Japan should together hold Russia accountable for its aggression against Ukraine.
Given Russia’s repeated threats of the use of nuclear weapons and North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development, the two leaders agreed on strengthening the Japan-U.S. and the Japan-U.S.-South Korea deterrence capabilities. At the same time, however, Mr. Kishida conveyed his desire to increase momentum toward achievement of “a world without nuclear weapons” and asked for Mr. Biden’s views on the issue.
In addition, in light of the situation in the Taiwan Strait, Mr. Kishida reportedly confirmed the two nations’ policy of cooperation vis-à-vis China. On the economic front, citing the U.S. semiconductor giant Micron, with a subsidiary plant in Higashihiroshima City, the Prime Minister said, “Japan will firmly support the company as a shining example of Japan-U.S. semiconductor cooperation.”
Meanwhile, prior to the meeting between the two leaders, Jacob Sullivan, U.S. National Security Advisor to President Biden, said in response to a question regarding whether the president was planning to apologize for the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima during his visit to Peace Memorial Park (in the city’s Naka Ward), “We will likely not be issuing any statement.”
(Originally published on May 19, 2023)
