The White House released a statement saying that President Biden met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday, September 21, to promote cooperation between the two countries on security, economic, and diplomatic issues. They also discussed their mutual concerns regarding the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.
In the statement, the White House emphasized that the US-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of regional peace and prosperity, and praised the progress made in strengthening the global partnership with Japan since Kishida’s official visit to the United States in April 2024.
“The two leaders reiterated their determination to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and emphasized their opposition to any attempts to change the status quo by force. They discussed their respective diplomatic relationships with the PRC (People’s Republic of China), as well as their shared concerns regarding threats and destabilizing activities by the PRC, including activities in the South China Sea,” the statement said.
Biden and Kishida also reaffirmed their commitment to developing and protecting key technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and semiconductors, while enhancing their capacity to “counter economic threats.”
Biden praised Kishida’s visionary and courageous leadership over the past three years, which fundamentally enhanced Japan’s defense capabilities and transformed its global role. The President thanked Kishida for his steadfast support in strengthening alliance defense cooperation, including cooperation in command and control, defense industry collaboration, enhanced exercises and training, and supporting the advancement of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. The leaders of both countries welcomed the progress made in cooperation on advanced capabilities projects under the “second pillar” of the AUKUS trilateral partnership.
AUKUS is a security agreement reached by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. AUKUS is divided into two pillars: the “first pillar” entails providing Australia with a conventional-armed nuclear-powered submarine fleet, and the “second pillar” involves cooperation on advanced capabilities such as quantum technology, advanced networking capabilities, hypersonic and anti-hypersonic capabilities, electronic warfare, and underwater capabilities.
“The two leaders pledged to continue working to elevate the US-Japan alliance to new heights and to remain steadfast global cooperation partners standing side by side,” the White House stated.
According to a statement released by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kishida and Biden held a meeting for about 60 minutes. Prime Minister Kishida stated that as the international order that supports peace and prosperity in both countries faces new challenges and stands at a historic turning point, the Japan-US alliance and their cooperation as global partners are becoming increasingly important.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the two leaders agreed that close cooperation should continue in addressing issues related to China, and reaffirmed their commitment to oppose and strongly respond to any unilateral attempts by China (the Chinese Communist Party) to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They also reiterated the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Kishida also emphasized the importance of continuing to work with the US to lead the establishment of a nuclear-free world.