Press Releases
Japan-U.S. Foreign Ministers' Meeting
May 23, 2022
On May 23, commencing at 5:50 pm, for about 40 minutes, Mr. HAYASHI Yoshimasa, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan held a Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with the Honorable Antony Blinken, Secretary of State of the United States of America, who was visiting Japan. The overview of the meeting is as follows.
- At the outset, Minister Hayashi welcomed Secretary Blinken’s visit to Japan, and stated that the Japan-U.S. summit meeting, attended by both Foreign Ministers, reaffirmed their shared understanding of the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region and renewed their commitment to its peace and prosperity. In response, Secretary Blinken expressed his hope to strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance together, which is the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.
- The two ministers exchanged their views on the current international affairs.
- (1) The two ministers, on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, concurred to continue imposing sanction measures against Russia and supporting Ukraine and neighboring countries, while closely coordinating between Japan and the United States and with the international community, including the G7.
- (2) The two ministers concurred to continue close coordination between Japan and the United States in addressing various issues related to China.
- (3) The two ministers shared serious concerns about nuclear and missile activities by North Korea, and concurred to continue close coordination between Japan and the United States on further responses, including at the United Nations Security Council.
- (4) The two ministers shared the view to further strengthen trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and the Republic of Korea.
- The two ministers concurred to swiftly strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance in the face of the increasingly severe security environment of the region. Secretary Blinken expressed the United States’ unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan. The two ministers also shared the view to communicate more closely, including between themselves, in order to continuously strengthen the credibility of the United States extended deterrence, taking into account the discussions held between the two leaders under the current circumstances.
- The two ministers exchanged their views on the significance of the so-called Economic "2+2" from a strategic perspective, including strengthening the competitiveness and resilience of both countries. Minister Hayashi promised Secretary Blinken to meet again on the occasion of the Economic "2+2" in July this year, which was announced by the two leaders, and concurred to accelerate concrete discussions toward that end. The two ministers also had a candid exchange of views on the economic order in the Indo-Pacific region and Minister Hayashi welcomed the launch of the Indo-Pacific Framework (IPEF) and encouraged the United States to return to the TPP.