Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Confirms President Joe Biden's Alliance Support For Confronting China

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. (Wikimedia Commons/US Department of State)

JAKARTA - Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Tuesday he received a strong message from United States President Joe Biden about his commitment to defending the small East China Sea islands disputed with China, the Senkaku Islands in Japan.

In a telephone conversation on Tuesday morning that lasted about 20 minutes, the allies also confirmed their cooperation to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific, Kishida told reporters at the prime minister's official residence.

"We reiterate that we will work together towards strengthening the free and open Japan-US and Indo-Pacific alliance. We also confirm plans for close cooperation on issues related to China and North Korea," said Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, citing Reuters. October 5th.

"In particular, President (Joe Biden) made strong comments about the US commitment to defend Japan, including Article 5 of the US-Japan security agreement," Kishida added, referring to US defense obligations to Japan, which include the uninhabited island.

Japan is becoming increasingly concerned about China's activities in the East China Sea, including incursions into the waters around the disputed island, known as Diaoyu in China.

Fumio Kishida, a 64-year-old former foreign minister with an image as a consensus builder, launched a cabinet line dominated by allies of former prime minister Shinzo Abe and former finance minister Taro Aso.

Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, Abe's brother, defended his position, as did Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, reflecting Kishida's intention to continue Abe's push to improve security ties with Washington while maintaining trade ties with China. This was predicted beforehand.

The new prime minister is also expected to deepen engagement with the United States, Australia, India, and Japan, an alliance known as the Quad, which Beijing sees as an attempt to contain its rise.

In addition, PM Kishida said acquiring the ability to attack enemy bases, a controversial move backed by Abe, was a viable option and that he would appoint an aide to monitor China's treatment of its Uyghur minority. China denies the allegations of abuse.

The most pressing regional issue for the United States-Japan alliance is tensioning over Taiwan, which has reported 148 Chinese air force aircraft in its air defense identification zone for four days starting Friday.

One of Kishida's most eye-catching appointments was the new post of minister of economic security. Kishida fills it with Takayuki Kobayashi, a 46-year-old graduate of Harvard's Kennedy School and the University of Tokyo, who has worked on policies aimed at protecting sensitive technology from China in areas such as supply chains and cybersecurity.

Separately, the White House confirmed a telephone call between the two leaders on Monday, focusing on alliances and peace.

"Leaders affirmed the strength of the US-Japan Alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world," the White House said in a statement.