Cronkite school of yourism at Arizona state unfortunate. Geoff: The challenge presented by China is one of the main focuses of the Biden white house and soon the president will meet with the leader of one of America's strongest alleys — Japan, in a.
Bid to deepen the military partnership in east Asia. In a moment, I'll speak with Japan's prime minister fumio kishida. But first, a look at the stakes of the coming summit. Next week president Biden will host Japanese prime minister.
Kishida in Washington on Wednesday followed by a summit among the two nations in the Philippines. It's all part of Japan's shift over the last decade. Slowly abandoning its post world War II inward approach of pacifism to deal with the rising.
Power nearby, China. Live fire military exercises off the coast of Taiwan, sailing its ships dangerously close to others in the south China sea and ramming boats from the Philippines in disputed waters. China also claims sovereignty over the aide which Japan.
Considers its own territory. Kishida promises to strengthen the military. >> The drays I can strengthening of our military operations is an urgent task. Geoff: On the economic point, the Biden administration last month came out against the.
Nippon company to buy U.S. Based U.S. Steel, saying it is vital for it to remain an American steel company. Nippon steel fired back saying the deal would advance American priorities by driving greater quality and competitiveness. The white house makes clear it.
Doesn't want to damage its relationship with Japan. >> The president has been clear about making sure that steel workers in this country know he has their back but that doesn't take away one built from the terrific relationship we have with Japan.
Overnight I spoke with prime minister kishida from his residence in Tokyo. Welcome to the newshour. One of the many items on the agenda for your meeting when you come to the U.S. Is focused on any upon steel.
President Biden is steal. President Biden is opposed to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to nippon steel of Japan, and he suggests it's a national security issue and that the us, as he says, needs to maintain strong American steel mpanies powered by American steel workers.
Do you feel president Biden is making a mistake? Prime minister: Well, with regard to the specific case of us steel, since the individual discussions are going on, amongst the direct parties concerned, I would chosen not to.
Directly comment on it. However, with regard to the japan-u.s. Alliance, it is stronger than ever. And Japan has grown to be now the world's largest foreign investor into the United States and creating lots of jobs in the United States, and it is.
Expected that this investment is going to be expanded even further. So in order to make this trend for win win more firm and definite, I think, what we need to do is to ascertain sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the Asia pacific and, work together, so.
That rule-based economic order can be sustained and maintained and based on that the basic notion on the economic front as well, I will continue to work strongly toward. Geoff: While you're in Washington next week, sir, you and president Biden.
Will agree to tighten military corps ration. Japan wants to establish the joint command headquarters before the end of March 2025, because of the concern about the threat that China poses. What will this strengthened.
U.s.-japan military relationship be able to do in the future that it cannot do now? Prime minister: I've seen in the Russian aggression against Ukraine as well as the situation in Israel and Palestinian. In.
Terms of the international community, it is really faced with the historical turning point. And in that context, I am of the view that, importance of Japan U.S. Alliances is growing even more. And after World War II, I would say that in.
Terms of the inter pacific situation for Japan, I think the international situation wise, it is the most severe and complicated situation. That is why at the end of 2022, Japan had put it together, the national security strategy, in.
Which it was decided that the defense expenditure, will be raised to 2% of G.D.P. I hope that in my visit to the United States, this time, Japan and the United States will be able to deepen into discussion on how our security cooperation can further be expanded.
Geoff: Will this new joint military headquarters would that would that be responsible for planning U.S. Japanese exercise and training training, or would it actually be involved in actual military operations? Prime minister: Well, based on.
The national security strategy that Japan had formulated, we are now planning to form the joint headquarters. However, the control per se will remain individually to each of the states concerned, namely Japan and the United States,.
Under the new system, I'm make sure that, Japan and the United States will make that coordination accordingly. Geoff: Would this new command be involved in the coming to the defense of Taiwan if China were to attack.
Taiwan? President Biden has said on a number of occasions that the U.S. Would come to the defense of Taiwan. In that case, would Japan come do the same? Prime minister: Well, I would refrain from answering your.
Question, your hypothetical question about the Taiwan contingency. However, the peace and stability over the Taiwan straits is very important, and not only for Japan's security, but also for the stability of the entire international.
Community. Therefore, we have always taken consistently the position that, issues over Taiwan is to be resolved through dialogue in a peaceful fashion. Of course, we will convey what we are thinking formally to the.
China. And also continued working closely, with allies like the United States and other like minded countries so that our position can be clearly, communicated. Geoff: What's your level of concern, though,.
About Chinese military activities in the south China sea and elsewhere in Asian waters? What do you believe is president XI's ultimate goal in Asia? Prime minister: Well, with regard.
To China, without affording adequate transparencies they are expanding military strength in this part of the region, inclusive of the nuclear and missile capabilities in a broad way and in such a speedy fashion. They are increasing.
Their cooperation with Russia as well. So in the sea of Japan, in the pacific ocean and so forth, their military activities are expanding, and also becoming much more intensified. So we are asking them to raise their.
Transparency and act, along with international code of conduct. Geoff: During the visit, you'll be announcing cooperation in space. Is Japan pushing to be the first non-american on the moon, and has the U.S. Agreed to that.
Plan? Prime minister: With regard to space, it has been confirmed that Japan will extend its cooperation in that area. So this is the dream, that a Japanese astronaut, might be stepping his feet on the, face of the moon. Hope that, when I.
Visit the United States, it will become one of the outcomes of the discussion. Geoff: You mentioned Ukraine earlier. Let's return to that. Does U.S. Military support for Ukraine make it harder for the us to meet its commitments.
In Asia? Prime minister: Well, Russia's aggression against Ukraine is a reckless deed which shakes the foundation of the international order with a strong sense of crisis that today's Ukraine might become tomorrow's east Asia.
I have been dealing with this issue, continuing the severe sanctions against Russia and the continuing strong support of Ukraine. And, on the 19th of February, Tokyo had hosted the japan-ukraine conference on economic growth.
And reconstruction and, based on that, of course, that Japan will continue its cooperation to Ukraine. And, of course, the international community has to cooperate in sending strong messages constantly to Russia because some of the Asian.
Countries might take it wrong. Geoff: Do you believe that support for Ukraine, as many in the U.S. Argue is important as a possible deterrent to China in the region? Prime minister: We really need to maintain international order,.
Which is based on the rule of law and which is free and open. And we should never allow any country to make it a habit to be aggressive against others and if that is allowed then that would send the wrong messages to, countries all over the world, including,.
Asia. Geoff: The north Koreans launched another ballistic missile this week. How much of this new military partnership is about containing the north and its aggression? And what's your level of concern.
About the apparent military cooperation among China, Russia and the dprk? Prime minister: Of course, the nuclear and missile development by dprk threatens not only Japan, but also the peace and stability of the entire international community.
I sense that very lately, the level of the dprk missile development capability is improving, very significantly. That is what I sense and I have a deep sense of crisis over that therefore, the cooperation amongst allies and with the like.
Minded countries, specifically between Japan and the united States and the republic of Korea, we really need to enhance our cooperation. And as you mentioned, the dprk is having a concrete cooperation with Russia, for example. So this is, of course,.
The concern shared by east Asian kunce. Therefore, the international community has to cooperate even more. Geoff: And lastly, sir, Japan was one American ally that managed to get along with former president.
Donald Trump. And if president trump is reelected, what advice do you have for other U.S. Allies on how to interact with him? Prime minister: I would say that regardless of the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
In the yeast, because of this more complicaed situation, the japan-u.s. Alliance grows in importance even more and I believe this is a common recognition in the U.S., going beyond party lines. So this is why I've decided to visit the United States, to.
Reinforce the continued alliance and continue our relationship. I hope that a japan-u.s. Alliance important will be understood as very important not only, in the security area, but also in the economic area as well. So I hope that, us will be able to.
Reaffirm once again how important Japan is as their rtner. And, we hope to, firm that, during my visit to E United States. Geoff: Japanese prime minister, kishida, we thank you for your time and thank you for speaking with us. Prime minister: I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I
