Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba of Japan stated on Tuesday (December 24) that strengthening the alliance with the United States is key to regional security and expressed his wish to meet with President-elect Donald Trump.
During a press conference marking the end of this year’s session of the Japanese parliament, Ishiba said, “I hope to meet with President-elect Trump at the earliest opportunity so that we can elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance to a higher level. To further enhance the Japan-U.S. alliance… it is important to form a common understanding of the situation in Northeast Asia.”
Japan is currently concerned about the increasingly assertive military activities of China, including violations of Japanese airspace and territorial waters, joint military exercises with Russia around Japan, as well as North Korea’s repeated test launches of ballistic missiles as part of its nuclear weapons and missile development program.
Ishiba mentioned that he had hoped to meet with Trump shortly after his victory in the U.S. presidential election in November but was informed that due to U.S. laws, there are restrictions on meetings between Trump and world leaders before his inauguration on January 20.
Nevertheless, Ishiba stated that last week, Trump expressed his willingness to meet with Japanese leaders in mid-January during a dinner with the widow of the late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Akie Abe. The relationship between Abe and Trump was close.
While specific details are yet to be confirmed, Ishiba said officials are working to advance the matter as Trump seeks to find the “appropriate timing.”
Ishiba took office in October this year and currently leads a minority government. In domestic affairs, he faces challenging negotiations with the opposition. He stated that he will make every effort to listen to the voices of the opposition and seek the broadest possible consensus on legislative political reforms and supplementary budget plans.
Ishiba also stated that his cabinet plans to approve the draft of the national budget for the next fiscal year on December 27.
He pledged to take measures to raise the minimum wage and address public concerns about the future to promote private consumption.
(This article refers to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters)