Japan’s new PM Shigeru Ishiba had his first telephone conversation with US President Joe Biden on Wednesday, pledging to strengthen bilateral ties, while Chinese President Xi Jinping called for “peaceful co-existence” with Tokyo.
“I had a great first phone call” with Biden, Ishiba said on Wednesday, adding that he will work “hand-in-hand” with the US president to “strengthen the Japan-US alliance and deepen our co-operation as global partners.”
During the phone conversation, Ishiba noted that the Japan-US alliance has been greatly strengthened under former PM Kishida Fumio and President Biden. He said he hopes to continue on that path and further strengthen the alliance.
Ishiba also announced Japan’s plan to increase defence spending and strengthen its defence capabilities. He said Japan wants to further strengthen the network of like-minded countries, including the trilateral relationship with the US and South Korea, the QUAD format with the US, Australia and India, and the trilateral ties with the US and the Philippines.
The leaders agreed on the importance of further improving the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-US alliance. They also pledged to intensify economic security cooperation between the two countries.
In addition, Ishiba and Biden reaffirmed their commitment to close co-operation on various issues related to China, responding to the situation in North Korea, including its missile and nuclear programmes and the abduction of foreign nationals, as well as the situation in Ukraine.
Regarding Israel’s claim that Iran launched ballistic missiles in its direction, Ishiba and Biden sharply criticised Tehran, calling the attack unacceptable. They agreed to work together to de-escalate the situation and prevent it from becoming a full-scale war.
New PM wants to renegotiate bilateral defence treaty with US
Ishiba, who was elected Prime Minister on Tuesday, is known for his views aimed at renegotiating the bilateral defence pact with the US, under which more than 50,000 US troops are stationed in the country.
Meanwhile, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to Ishiba and said the two countries were “separated by a strip of water.” Xi told Japan’s 102nd prime minister:
“It serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples for both sides to walk on a road of peaceful co-existence, everlasting friendship, mutually beneficial co-operation and common development.”
