Biden's Strategic Move: Welcoming Japanese Prime Minister to Send a Strong Signal to China

President Joe Biden is welcoming Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio for a state visit, which includes an important meeting in the Oval Office. This visit highlights Biden's dedication to strengthening key partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region, especially in light of China's growing military and economic power.

During the bilateral meeting between Biden and Kishida, it is anticipated that over 70 items across various crucial sectors will be announced. This reflects the commitment of both leaders to enhance cooperation and collaboration between the United States and Japan.

The officials have outlined several key initiatives to strengthen the military alliance between the US and Japan. This includes restructuring US forces in Japan to enhance integration with Japanese forces, establishing a "military industrial council" to explore joint defense weapon production, and coordinating anti-missile defense efforts with Australia.

While these announcements mark a significant update to the alliance, the implementation of certain elements will require time. For instance, the restructuring of US forces in Japan is expected to take several months for both countries to navigate and finalize, as noted by a senior official.

Leaders are also expected to discuss space collaboration, especially as Japan has shown interest in sending its first astronaut to the Moon. They will also focus on increasing people-to-people ties, considering the decline in student exchanges between the two countries in recent years.

One of the initiatives is a joint artificial intelligence research project between Carnegie Mellon University and Keio University in Tokyo. Additionally, there is an AI-related exchange program involving the University of Washington, Washington State, and Tsukuba University in Japan. Furthermore, a scholarship will be established to support high school students from the US to study in Japan and vice versa.

Despite recent differences on the economic front, the US and Japan continue to strengthen their cooperation across various sectors. The president has opposed Japan's efforts to purchase US Steel, but officials do not anticipate Biden addressing this issue directly. They emphasize that the relationship between the two countries is broader than one commercial deal.

Following this, there will be the first-ever leaders' summit between the US, Japan, and the Philippines later this week. Biden aims to enhance ties with Pacific allies and partners, particularly amidst challenges such as China's aggression and North Korea's nuclear provocations.

All the items on the agenda are part of a coordinated military, diplomatic, and strategic effort to counter Chinese attempts to isolate American allies like the Philippines and Japan, as explained by a senior administration official.

According to this official, the goal of transitioning to a multilateral, interconnected strategic framework is to counter China and isolate them.

Japan has played a key role in Biden's alliance building efforts in the Indo-Pacific. Prime Minister Kishida has been a strong and willing partner, making significant changes to Japan's defense stance and providing ongoing support to Ukraine during Russia's invasion. Kishida has committed to increasing defense spending by 2% of GDP by 2037 and has acquired American Tomahawk missiles to enhance their counterstrike capabilities.

Prior to taking office, President Biden and his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, directed their transition team to focus on alliances and partnerships with great potential. They believed that the United States could benefit by reengaging with these relationships, as stated by a senior administration official.

"What we did was create a strategy to make our Indo-Pacific strategy relatable to our allies and partners," explained the official.

Cherry Blossom diplomacy

Even as the leaders prepare to reveal numerous defense and diplomatic agreements during their visit, there is also a symbolic gesture that is being emphasized. Kishida plans to announce Japan's commitment to provide new cherry tree saplings to replace some of the iconic trees that will be cut down later this year around the Tidal Basin in Washington.

The National Park Service has announced that approximately 150 cherry trees will be removed this spring to accommodate the construction of higher seawalls around the basin. Japan originally gifted these trees to Washington in the early 1900s.

A senior official from the Biden administration praised the original gift of cherry trees from Japan as one of the most important diplomatic gifts in US history. This gift is considered second only to the Statue of Liberty, which was a present from France.

The official highlighted the significance of such initiatives, stating that they may not seem as important as new military agreements or joint military projects. However, these gestures are deeply meaningful to the people of both countries.

Biden praised the alliance with Japan on Wednesday. However, American allies are worried about the potential return of Donald Trump to the Oval Office and its impact on US foreign relations.

Officials acknowledged that there is anxiety among allies about the future of US policy. They are uncertain about whether the US will continue to be engaged in international pursuits and maintain bipartisan foreign policy efforts that have been in place since the Second World War and the Cold War. There are questions and concerns about the direction of US foreign relations.

Editor's P/S:

The state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United States highlights the importance of strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. This visit reflects the Biden administration's commitment to countering China's growing influence and enhancing cooperation with key allies like Japan. The announcements made during the bilateral meeting, including the restructuring of US forces in Japan, the establishment of a military industrial council, and the coordination of anti-missile defense efforts with Australia, demonstrate the deepening of the military alliance between the two countries. These initiatives are part of a broader strategy to bolster American allies in the face of Chinese aggression and North Korea's nuclear provocations.

Beyond military cooperation, the visit also underscores the importance of people-to-people ties. The announcement of joint AI research projects and scholarship programs aims to foster closer connections between the citizens of both countries. The symbolic gesture of Japan providing new cherry tree saplings to replace those being removed around the Tidal Basin in Washington further strengthens the emotional bond between the two nations. These initiatives, while not as prominent as military agreements, play a significant role in promoting understanding and goodwill between the United States and Japan.