U.S.-Japan Joint Statement: Starts A New Strategy On CCP’s Competition

According to media accounts, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the White House on January 13 to hold a summit meeting with President Joe Biden. This is his first visit to the United States after taking office in 2021. The two countries have shared visions of maintaining a peaceful world andcontinue tooppose Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, and they will impose sanctions on Russia, and provide unwavering support for Ukraine. It is reported that the two leaders also discussed issues about Communist China’s maritime expansionand reaffirmedtheir commitment to the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, jointly statingthe need to remain a “free and open Indo-Pacific region”, and to strengthen an international order based on the rule of law. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to Japan’s national defense, including the use of armed facilities by its land, air, naval forces in accordance withArticle VI of the Japan-U.S. Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. The two leaders also discussed the G7 summit to be held in Hiroshima in May. Japan assumes the rotated chair of the G7, sought further discussionwith the U.S.on clean energy and energy security, where they have deepenedcooperation on nuclear energy while upholding the highest nonproliferation standards. The U.S.-Japan joint statement condemns Communist China, North Korea, and Russia for their aggressive ambitions against other countries. The two nations strongly oppose any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo anywhere in the world by force or coercion, the statement clearly states the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Straitas a key element of security and prosperity in the international community. The U.S. and Japan will work closer as allies in 2023, committed to achieving peaceful and prosperity through their actions.