Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting

On January 13, 2023, Mr. Kishida Fumio, Prime Minister of Japan, who was visiting Washington, D.C., held a Japan-U.S. Summit Meeting with the Honorable Joseph R. Biden, Jr., President of the United States of America. The overview of the meeting is as follows.

At the outset, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his pleasure to meet with his close friend, President Biden, on his first visit to Washington, D.C. as Prime Minister of Japan in the new year 2023. In response, President Biden welcomed Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the U.S. and stated that the partnership between the two leaders and the Japan-U.S. Alliance are stronger than ever.

Prime Minister Kishida stated that as Japan and the U.S. face the most severe and complex security environment in recent years, Japan will fundamentally reinforce its defense capabilities, including the possession of counterstrike capabilities, and substantially increase its defense budget, based on the new National Security Strategy and other documents released last December, and President Biden reiterated his full support. Prime Minister Kishida expressed his high appreciation for the U.S. National Security Strategy released last October, and President Biden reiterated his unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan. The two leaders then welcomed the national security strategies of the two countries are aligned with each other and renewed their determination to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. Alliance, including seeking to create synergies in the implementation of the strategies. The two leaders instructed to further deepen concrete consultations regarding Japan-U.S. cooperation on the security front, taking into account the discussions at the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee (“2+2”) on January 11.

The two leaders exchanged views on the regional issues as follows, based on the viewpoint that any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in East Asia, must not be tolerated.

(1) The two leaders concurred on continuing to work closely together in addressing issues related to China. The two leaders also confirmed the importance of cooperating with China on shared challenges. Furthermore, the two leaders reiterated the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and encouraged the peaceful resolution of cross-Strait issues.

(2) The two leaders concurred on continuing to work closely together between Japan and the U.S. as well as among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK toward the complete denuclearization of North Korea in accordance with the UN Security Council resolutions on strengthening regional deterrence, including security cooperation among Japan, the U.S., and the ROK, and on responses at the UN Security Council. Prime Minister Kishida also asked for continued understanding and cooperation of the U.S. for the immediate resolution of the abductions issue, and once again gained full support from President Biden.

(3) Regarding Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the two leaders concurred on continuing to strongly promote sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine in close coordination with the G7 and other like-minded countries. They also reaffirmed their views that Russia’s nuclear threat is absolutely unacceptable, and Russia should never use nuclear weapons under any circumstances.

Prime Minister Kishida explained that, at the G7 Hiroshima Summit, he would like to demonstrate the G7’s vision and determination to uphold the international order based on the rule of law and also discuss the Indo-Pacific substantially. In addition, Prime Minister Kishida stated that as the Prime Minister of Japan, the only country to have ever suffered atomic bombings during war, he hopes to join with the G7 leaders, including President Biden, in sending a pledge from Hiroshima to the world that humanity will never repeat the scourge of nuclear weapons. The two leaders then concurred on working together toward a world without nuclear weapons, while taking into account the severe security environment. Furthermore, the leaders shared the view that it is important for the G7 to work in solidarity in such areas as the global economy, including energy and food security, economic security, and global issues such as climate change, health and development. The leaders reaffirmed their commitment that Japan and the U.S. will work closely together toward the success of the G7 Hiroshima Summit.

The two leaders shared the view that the Japan-U.S. economic relations were elevated to a strategic stage in 2022, with the launch and progress of the Japan-U.S. Economic Policy Consultative Committee (the Economic “2+2”) and the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF). The two leaders then concurred that, with Japan holding the G7 Presidency and the U.S. holding the APEC Chair this year, the two countries will lead the international community toward sustainable and inclusive economic growth and maintaining and strengthening a rules-based, free and fair international economic order, while also utilizing this year’s Economic “2+2.” In addition, Prime Minister Kishida once again conveyed Japan’s thoughts on the U.S. credits for clean vehicles. Furthermore, the two leaders shared the recognition that U.S. engagement in the regional economic order is becoming increasingly important, and concurred on cooperating for the progress of IPEF negotiations. Prime Minister Kishida, meanwhile, conveyed Japan’s position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), from a strategic perspective. The two leaders also concurred on promoting DFFT (Data Free Flow with Trust).

The two leaders concurred on strengthening supply chain resilience among like-minded countries to handle economic security challenges, including economic coercion. The two leaders also confirmed their commitment to cooperate to promote and protect critical technologies, including semiconductors as well as biotechnology, quantum and AI technologies and to strengthen cooperation on supply chains and others. Furthermore, the two leaders shared the importance of working toward strengthening energy security.

The two leaders concurred on further promoting Japan-U.S. cooperation in the area of outer space.

The two leaders shared the recognition that commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law has never been more important. Prime Minister Kishida then stated that he will strengthen efforts to realize a “Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)”. In response, President Biden expressed his support for Prime Minister Kishida’s initiatives and reiterated the unwavering U.S. commitment to the region. The two leaders concurred that Japan and the U.S. will continue to promote endeavors to realize a FOIP to ensure the peace and prosperity of the region and the international community.

The two leaders reconfirmed unprecedented Japan-U.S. cooperation, rooted in the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a peaceful and prosperous world, and guided by the shared values, including the rule of law, and issued the Joint Statement of the United States and Japan.

Note: This article was created with the consent of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan and on the basis of materials published by the Ministry.