U.S.-Japan Summit To Be Held On January 13th

Japanese media reported on January 8th that the governments of Japan and the United States have made arrangements for the release of a joint document focusing on the security field following the summit meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden in Washington on January 13th. The forthcoming joint document reportedly makes revisions to three documents related to the national security strategy. The three documents, announced by the Japanese government in December last year, include further deepening of the U.S.-Japan alliance and strengthening of cooperation to promote a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” In the joint document, both parties plan to propose deepening security cooperation to promote a strong U.S.-Japan alliance, which is based on the ability to destroy enemy missile launch sites and other facilities for self-defense purposes, because the national security strategy has pointed out that Japan should have a “counterattack capability.” The joint document will also reiterate that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture fall within the scope of Article 5 of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty. The article stipulates the obligation to defend Japan and emphasizes the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. The document is also expected to include close cooperation toward the completely de-nuclearizing North Korea. At the same time, the cooperation between both parties in the key economic, trade, and security technology and space sectors is also expected to be clarified. According to reports, before visiting the United States, Prime Minister Kishida will visit France, Italy, the United Kingdom, and Canada from January 9th to hold talks with the leaders, and call on countries to cooperate at the G7 summit of industrialized nations in Hiroshima in May.