Japan Will Continue to Cooperate with Whoever is Elected US President

JAKARTA - The Japanese government will continue to work closely with the United States (US) regardless of the results of the presidential election in November.

"What is important is that, regardless of the results of the upcoming US presidential election, we will work closely with the US government, carrying out the necessary coordination to respond to any situation that may arise in the future," said Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi in a brief statement reported by Antara, Monday, July 22.

Hayashi stated this in response to the possible impact of the decision of current US President Joe Biden to withdraw from the US presidential election.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has said that Tokyo will monitor developments closely, adding that Tokyo-Washington cooperation is the "foundation" of Japan's security.

On Sunday, July 21, Biden said that he would withdraw from the presidential election and support Vice President Kamala Harris as the Democratic Party's presidential candidate.

Republican presidential candidate and former US President Donald Trump has said it would be easier for him to defeat Harris than Biden. The US presidential election is scheduled for November 5.