Press Releases
Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ Telephone Talk
November 13, 2021
On November 13, commencing at 8:45 a.m., for over 30 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs, held a Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers’ telephone talk with the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America. The overview of the talk is as follows.
- At the outset, Foreign Minister Hayashi expressed his hope to build a good relationship with Secretary Blinken and to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance together. In response, Secretary Blinken offered his congratulations to Foreign Minister Hayashi for his assumption of office.
- The two ministers reaffirmed to work closely in further strengthening the Japan-U.S. Alliance, realizing a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” and responding to global issues such as COVID-19 and climate change, based on the Japan-U.S. Joint Leaders’ Statement in April.
- The two ministers exchanged their views on regional affairs including China and North Korea.
(1) Regarding China, the two ministers strongly opposed China’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas, and agreed to closely coordinate in addressing various issues related to China.
(2) Regarding North Korea, the two ministers shared the view to coordinate closely between Japan and the U.S. as well as among Japan, the U.S. and the ROK towards the complete denuclearization of North Korea. Foreign Minister Hayashi also asked for continued understanding and cooperation on the abductions issue, to which Secretary Blinken offered his support. - In light of the increasingly severe regional security environment, the two ministers concurred to advance the strengthening of the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance as a matter of strongest priority, and to coordinate toward holding a “2+2” meeting at the earliest possible opportunity. They also shared the view to steadily implement the realignment of U.S. Forces in Japan, from the perspective of mitigating the impact on local communities such as Okinawa. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the U.S.’s unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan including the application of Article V of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty to the Senkaku Islands.
- The two ministers shared the view to hold an in-person foreign ministerial meeting at an early timing.