Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to step down, and his recent visit to the United States may be his final overseas trip during his tenure. During this visit, he once again emphasized the crucial and necessary role the United States plays in East Asia and global affairs.
On Monday, Kishida spoke at a special discussion on the future of investment in Japan, hosted by Bloomberg in New York, highlighting the need to establish a society rooted in freedom and democracy. He noted that since the end of World War II, the United States has made significant contributions in this regard.
Kishida stated, “Today, both East Asia and the world at large need the participation and leadership of the United States, which also aligns with the national interests of the U.S.”
He expressed his commitment to strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance, enhancing Japan’s defense capabilities to uphold a “law-based, free, and open international order.”
Kishida posed a thought-provoking question, “What kind of future do we intend to pass on to our descendants? It should not be a world where freedom is restricted and people’s will is suppressed.”
On Sunday, Kishida participated in the United Nations General Assembly in the U.S., where world leaders endorsed a “Pact for the Future” to address global challenges.
On Monday, Kishida wrote on the social media platform X, saying, “The world is at a historic turning point. With attempts to unilaterally change the status quo through force and nuclear threats, human dignity, fundamental human rights, freedom, and democracy are all at risk.”
He added that there is a need to push for reform in the United Nations Security Council, ensuring shared responsibilities within the international community to achieve unity.
Last Saturday, Kishida attended the “Quad Summit” with U.S. President Biden, as well as leaders from Australia and India.
Prior to the summit, Biden held a meeting with Kishida for about an hour, where they emphasized their shared concerns on the South China Sea and Taiwan Strait issues, reaffirming their determination to “maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait” and committing to further enhancing close cooperation to address the increasingly severe challenges posed by China.
Kishida’s remarks on Monday echoed his well-received speech in the U.S. Congress in April, where he not only elevated the Japan-U.S. alliance to a historic level but also reached a consensus on joint resistance against communist influences between the two countries.
Kishida announced last month that he would not participate in the leadership election of the Liberal Democratic Party in September, indicating his impending departure from the position of Japanese Prime Minister after serving for three years.