U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris (entrance, proper) leads a U.S. delegation to a gathering with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Sept. 26, 2022.
Credit score: Fb/ Vice President Kamala Harris
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Monday shortly after arriving in Tokyo for the state funeral of assassinated former chief Abe Shinzo.
Abe, a former prime minister who was assassinated in July, will probably be honored on Tuesday, and Harris is main a U.S. delegation to pay its respects.
“The alliance between Japan and the US is a cornerstone of what we consider is integral to peace, stability, and prosperity within the Indo-Pacific area,” she mentioned on the Akasaka Palace.
Kishida mentioned Abe “poured his coronary heart and soul” into strengthening ties between their two nations.
“I really feel it’s my responsibility to hold on his aspirations,” Kishida mentioned.
Abe cast nearer ties with the US at a time of elevated concern about China’s ambitions, and Kishida is continuous his push for a stronger nationwide protection.
The potential for battle over Taiwan, a self-governed island that China claims as a part of its personal territory, has troubled Japan, which might possible be pulled into such a battle.
President Joe Biden mentioned just lately that the US would ship its personal troops to defend Taiwan if China attacked.
“The president has addressed that challenge. And if it comes up, the vp will align with the president,” mentioned a senior administration official, who requested anonymity to debate a non-public assembly.
The official additionally mentioned Harris would “clarify our ironclad dedication to Japan’s safety.” Greater than 50,000 U.S. troops are primarily based there.
Harris, who’s scheduled to spend three nights in Tokyo, is visiting at a politically fraught second. Kishida’s determination to carry a state funeral for Abe, a conservative nationalist, has been controversial in a rustic the place such memorials are unusual, and a few oppose honoring him on this manner.
Kishida can also be pushing for a dramatic growth of protection spending that will give Japan the world’s third-largest army funds within the coming years, after the US and China. A brand new nationwide safety technique, the primary in virtually a decade, is within the works as effectively.
The controversy is enjoying out as Japan reevaluates the chance of battle after the shock of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, mentioned Christopher Johnstone, senior adviser and Japan chair on the Middle for Strategic and Worldwide Research.
The combating in Europe is a reminder that “battle actually is feasible,” he mentioned, and “Japan lives in a reasonably tough neighborhood.”
Japan is upgrading missiles and contemplating utilizing them for preemptive strikes — a transfer critics say would basically change the nation’s protection coverage and breach the postwar pacifist structure that limits use of drive to self-defense.
It has additionally shifted its protection from the northeast to southwestern Japan, together with Okinawa and different distant islands.