Interviews & Articles

The challenge presented by China is one of the main focuses of the Biden White House, and soon the President will meet with the leader of one of America's strongest allies Japan in a bid to deepen the military partnership in East Asia. In a moment I'll speak with Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. But first a look at the stakes of the coming Summit.
Next week, a new plan to strengthen military cooperation is expected to be unveiled by two powerful leaders. President Biden will host Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida in Washington on Wednesday, followed by a summit among the two nations and the Philippines.

It's all part of Japan's shift and military strategy over the last decade slowly abandoning its post-World War Two inward looking approach of pacifism to deal with the rising power nearby China and the PRC military activities in the region are seen as increasingly aggressive including live fire military exercises off the coast of Taiwan, sailing ships dangerously close to others in the South China Sea, and ramming boats from the Philippines in disputed waters.

China also claims sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands, which Japan considers its own territory. In turn the Prime Minister could aim to increase military strength to deter the PRC in the face of the severe security environment.
“The drastic strengthening of our defense capabilities is an urgent task that we have no time to wait for.”

All of this is driving the US and Japan to improve joint military operability. But on the economic front, a new flashpoint, as the Biden administration last month came out against the Japanese company Nippon Steel's $14.1 billion offer to buy Pittsburgh based US Steel, saying in a statement, it is vital for it to remain an American steel company that is domestically owned and operated. Nippon steel fired back saying the deal would advance American priorities by driving greater quality and competitiveness while strengthening American supply chains that says the White House makes clear it does not want to damage its relationship with Japan.

The President is also being clear about making sure that steel workers in this country know that he has their back that doesn't take away one bit from the terrific relationship that we have now and will continue to have with Japan.

Mr. Bennett: Overnight I spoke with Prime Minister proceeded from his residence in Tokyo. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Welcome to the news hour. One of the key items on your agenda next week is focused on Nippon steel. President Biden is opposed to the planned sale of US Steel to Nippon steel of Japan. And he suggests that it's a national security issue. In his words, he says the US needs to maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers. Do you feel President Biden is making a mistake?

PM Kishida: Well with regard to the specific case of US Steel, since the individual discussions are going on amongst the direct parties concerned, I would choose not to directly comment on it. However, with regard to the Japan-US Alliance, it is stronger than ever, and Japan has grown to be now the world's largest foreign investor in the United States and creates lots of jobs in the United States. It is expected that this investment is going to be expanded even further. So in order to make this trend of a win-win indefinite, I think what we need to do is to ascertain sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the Asia Pacific and work together so that rule-based economic order can be sustained and maintained. And based on that, the basic notion on the economic front as well.

Mr. Bennett: While you're in Washington next week, you and President Biden will agree to tighten military cooperation. Japan wants to establish the Joint Command Headquarters before the end of March 2025 because of the concern about China. What will this strengthened US-Japan military relationship be able to do in the future that it can't do right now?

PM Kishida: I've seen in the Russian aggression against Ukraine as well as the situation in Israel and Palestine that the international community is really faced with a historical turning point. In that context, I am of the view that the importance of the Japan-US alliance is growing even more. After World War Two, I would say that in terms of the Indo-Pacific situation for Japan, it is the most severe and complicated situation. That is why at the end of 2022, Japan had put together the national security strategy in which it was decided that the defense expenditure will be raised to 2% of GDP. I hope that in my visits the United States at this time, Japan and the United States will be able to deepen into discussion on how our security cooperation can be further expanded.

Mr. Bennett: Will this new headquarters be involved in actual military operations, or would it just be responsible for planning military exercises between the US and Japan?

PM Kishida: Based on the national security strategy that Japan has formulated, we are now planning to form the joint headquarters. However, the control, per se, will remain individually to each of the states concerned, namely Japan and the United States. And under that new system, I'll make sure that Japan and the United States will make that coordination accordingly.

Mr. Bennett: Will this new command to be involved in coming to the defense of Taiwan if China were to attack Taiwan? President Biden has said on a number of occasions that the US would come to the defense of Taiwan if China were to attack it. Will Japan do the same?

PM Kishida: I would refrain from answering your question, your hypothetical question, about Taiwan. However, the peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait is very important, and not only for Japan's security, but also for the stability of the entire international community. Therefore, we have always taken consistently the position that issues over Taiwan are to be resolved through dialogue in a peaceful fashion. Of course, we will convey what we were thinking formulate to China and also continue working closely with allies like United States and other like-minded countries, so that our position can be clearly communicated.

Mr. Bennett: What's your level of concern, though, about Chinese military activities in the South China Sea and elsewhere in Asian waters? What do you believe is President Xi's ultimate goal?

PM Kishida: Well with regard to China, without their affording adequate transparency, they are expanding military strength in this part of the region, inclusive of the nuclear and missile capabilities in a broad way, and in such a speedy fashion. They are increasing their cooperation with Russia as well. So, in the Sea of Japan, in the Pacific Ocean and so forth, their military activities are expanding and also becoming much more intensified. So, we are going to ask them to raise their transparency and act along with the international code of conduct.

Mr. Bennett: During the visit, as I understand it, you'll also be announcing cooperation in space. Is Japan pushing to have the first non-American on the moon? And has the US agreed to that?

PM Kishida: With regard to space, it has been confirmed that Japan will extend his cooperation in this area. So, this is the dream that a Japanese astronaut might be stepping his feet on the face of the moon. I hope that when I visit the United States, it will become one of the outcomes of the discussion.

Mr. Bennett: As you mentioned Ukraine earlier, let's return to that. Does US military support for Ukraine make it harder for the US to meet its commitments in Asia?

PM Kishida: Well, Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a reckless deed, which shakes the foundation of the international order with a strong sense of crisis that today's Ukraine might become tomorrow's East Asia. I have been dealing with this issue, continuing the severe sanctions against Russia and the continuing strong support to Ukraine. And on the 19th of February, Tokyo hosted the Japan-Ukraine Conference on Economic Growth and Reconstruction. And based on that, of course, Japan will continue its cooperation to Ukraine. And of course, the international community has to cooperate in sending strong messages constantly to Russia, because some of the Asian countries might take it wrong.

Mr. Bennett: Do you believe that support for Ukraine, as many in the US argue, is important as a possible deterrent to China in the region?

PM Kishida: We really need to maintain international order, which is based on the rule of law in which is free and open. And we should never allow any country to make it a habit to be aggressive against others. And if that is allowed, then that would send the wrong message to countries all over the world, including Asia.

Mr. Bennett: The North Koreans launched another ballistic missile this week. How much of this new military partnership is about containing the north and its aggression? And what's your level of concern about the apparent military cooperation among China, Russia and the DPRK?

PM Kishida: Of course the nuclear and missile development by DPRK threatens not only Japan but also the peace and stability of the entire international community. I sense it very lately the level of DPRK missile development capability is improving very significantly. That is what I sense and I have a deep sense of crisis over that and therefore the cooperation amongst allies and with like-minded countries, specifically between Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea, we really need to enhance our cooperation. And as you had mentioned, it is reported the DPRK is having a concrete cooperation with Russia. So, this is of course the concern shared by East Asian countries. Therefore, the international community has to cooperate even more.

Mr. Bennett: And lastly, sir, Japan was one American ally that managed to get along with former President Donald Trump. How were you able to do that? And if Donald Trump is reelected, what advice do you have to US allies about how to interact with him?

PM Kishida: During the days of Prime Minister Abe with President Trump efforts were made to make even more fulfilling the contents of the US-Japan relationship and it continues to this day. So, I would say that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election in the United States, because of this more complicated international situation, the Japan-US Alliance grows in importance even more. And I believe this is a notion shared as a common recognition within the US, going beyond party lines in a bipartisan way. So that is why I've decided to visit the United States, this time to confer once again this relationship, the importance of our alliances and to continue efforts so that we can further develop our relationship. I hope that the Japan-US alliance will be understood is very important not only in the security area, but also in economics as well. So, I hope that the US will be able to reaffirm once again how important Japan is as their partner. And we hope to confirm that during my visit to the United States.

Mr. Bennett: Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Thank you for your time this evening. We appreciate it.

PM Kishida: Well, thank you. I'd like to thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I thank you once again for your cooperation.