Pres. Biden hosts Japan’s Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for an official visit
The two men spoke of strengthening alliances
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) -
President Biden welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the White House today/Wednesday for a rare State Visit - aimed at improving security and trade ties between the two countries.
The primary aim of President Biden’s day long meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was upgrading the Security Alliance between the two countries. Japan now uses Asian tradition for names, so his family name is Kishida and his personal name is Fumio.
In the first White House visit by a Japanese leader in nine years, President Biden announcing new steps that would allow for more joint developing of military and defense equipment, as well as a joint space mission to the moon.
“Mr. Prime Minister! Through our partnership, we have strengthened the alliance. We have expanded our work together. We’ve raised our shared ambitions. And now the US-Japan alliance is a beacon to the entire world. There is no limit what our countries can and our people can do together.”
Those efforts by the U.S. and Japan aimed at isolating China, which poses a major threat to the region. But friction during the visit because of a planned $15 billion purchase of U.S. steel by Japan’s Nippon Steel, a deal strongly opposed by President Biden.
“I stand by our commitment to our alliance. This is exactly what we’re doing as strong allies as well.”
However, according to Politico, the U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into the $14 billion merger. The steelworkers union staunchly opposes the deal, saying, “Given Nippon’s current actions, its public promises ring hollow. We have no reason to believe it will change course should the transaction with USS close, leaving our domestic steel industry in even greater danger. For this and many other reasons including violations of our contract, national security and critical supply chain issues, Nippon must not be allowed to acquire USS facilities.”
Thursday, Prime Minister Kishida will address a joint meeting of Congress and also take part in a trilateral summit with President Biden and the president of the Philippines. That summit aimed at sending a strong message to China, which has pressured the Philippines in the South China Sea.
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