The strategic alliance relationship

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has commenced a state visit to the US. This is an opportunity for the two sides to promote their cooperation in a series of fields, including politics, economics, and security, as well as affirm the importance of the maintenance and consolidation of their alliance, which is considered the foundation for peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific in the context that both the US and Japan are dealing with the challenges in the region and the world.

This is the first visit of a Japanese PM to the US as a state guest since former PM Shinzo Abe’s visit in 2015. PM Kishida stressed the importance of the Japan-US alliance in the context that the international community is facing complicated and diverse challenges and the security environment surrounding Japan is increasingly serious. Kishida also noted that Japan and the US are global partners, so the two countries should strive to play a leading role in solving the international community’s issues.

Focus on security and economic cooperation

Since taking office in 2021, PM Kishida has positioned Japan as a partner of the US not only in Asia but also on a global scale, while for the US, the partnership with Japan has long been a focus in its strategy in the Indo-Pacific. The central goal of PM Kishida Fumio's state visit to Washington is to further strengthen economic and defence relations with the US, its most important ally. Along with trade cooperation, security and defence are also on the overarching agenda during his visit.

Many sources say that the US and Japan are planning the most drastic upgrade in security cooperation between the two countries since they signed a mutual defence treaty in 1960. Japan and the US are making efforts to strengthen the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities in the face of growing security challenges. The two sides are also seeking to take the lead in creating regulations to prevent an arms race in outer space.

In January 2023, Japan and the US agreed to expand the scope of Washington's obligations towards Tokyo's defence as stipulated in their Security Treaty, thereby including the space sector. The two countries also plan to submit a joint resolution to the United Nations Security Council calling on all nations not to deploy nor develop nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction in space.

Meanwhile, the restructuring and expansion of functions of the US military's command in Japan is also one of the leading topics in defence cooperation between the two sides. This is considered the largest effort to upgrade the US-Japan security alliance in decades, opening the necessary path for both sides to promote timely adjustments towards establishing a joint operations command.

This will allow both sides to share information more seamlessly and make decisions on cooperation, thereby increasing the effectiveness of existing chains of command. After Japan eased regulations on exports of defence equipment, US President Joe Biden and PM Kishida expect to take another step in this area by discussing the establishment of a joint defence council to study the next export commodities.

The White House statement said the visit will highlight the enduring strength of the alliance partnership, the US unwavering commitment to Japan, and Japan's increasingly pioneering role in international arena as well as the efforts to strengthen political, security, economic and people-to-people ties. Along with defence cooperation, trade is also a focus in US-Japan cooperation.

Sources familiar with the matter said PM Kishida will visit a Toyota Motor Corp factory which is under construction in North Carolina. The visit is said to be a reminder to the US about the contribution of Japanese companies to the world's number one economy. PM Kishida stressed that it is important to demonstrate that Japan is the world's largest investor in the US. Japanese companies are supporting jobs in the US, and the potential for additional investment in the US in the coming years is huge.

In addition, another issue that is expected to be mentioned by the Japanese leader in the meetings involves criticism of the Nippon Steel agreement to buy US Steel at 14.1 billion USD in the US. US Steel was once the most powerful company in the world and a symbol of the US’s status as an industrial powerhouse. Therefore, the federal government must consider the economic and political implications of this agreement. Wendy Cutler, Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) and former Acting Deputy US Trade Representative, said if this agreement is not approved, it will further complicate the business relationship between the two countries.

Coordination to increase influence in the region

An important event during the visit the first trilateral summit between the two leaders of the US and Japan with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., in the context that both Washington and Tokyo are looking for ways to strengthen defence and economic ties with Manila. According to the White House's announcement, the meeting aims to discuss economic relations and issues in the Indo-Pacific region.

The leaders will discuss trilateral cooperation to promote inclusive economic growth, emerging technologies, clean energy supply chains and climate cooperation, as well as strengthening peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world. The Head of the Japanese Government reaffirmed that cooperation among three countries is extremely important in maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific as well as maintaining a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Some experts say that the US-Japan relationship is at an all-time high, with the breadth and depth of bilateral cooperation continuing to be strengthened. The two leaders plan to confirm cooperation in many fields including security, space, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum science technology, and the fifth generation mobile networks as well as will also agree to establish a ministerial-level policy dialogue to promote offshore wind power generation. However, in the context that both PM Kishida and President Biden are facing many current problems that must be resolved domestically and internationally, maintaining extensive cooperation as the driving force for the US-Japan alliance continues to be a challenge for both sides.

NDO