Japan’s Kishida warns world of ‘historic turning point’ as he touts US alliance ahead of Biden summit

Spiraling geopolitical tensions have pushed the world towards a “historic turning point” and forced Japan to change its defense posture, the Japanese prime minister said. Fumio Kishida told CNN on Sunday ahead of a closely watched summit with the US president Joe Biden next week.

“As we witness Russian aggression in Ukraine, the continuing situation in the Middle East as well as the situation in East Asia, we are facing a historic turning point,” Kishida said during a interview at his private residence in Tokyo.

“That is why Japan has taken the decision to fundamentally strengthen its defense capabilities and we have significantly changed Japan’s security policy on these fronts,” he said.

Faced with growing security challenges, the prime minister stressed, the Japan-US alliance is becoming “more and more important”, a view he hoped would garner bipartisan support in Washington.

Kishida made the remarks days before his Wednesday meeting with Biden in Washington, where he will also address a joint session of Congress and participate in the first-ever trilateral summit between Japan, the United States and the Philippines.

The Kishida-Biden summit was characterized by Washington as a historic opportunity for the two countries to modernize their alliance as both pay attention to regional threats ranging from North Korea’s weapons tests and burgeoning relations with Russia to China’s aggression in the South China Sea and towards Taiwan.

The partnership with Japan has long been central to U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, but the defense relationship has grown under Kishida, who has raised Japan’s profile in global and regional security.

Moving away from the pacifist past

Since coming to power in 2021, the prime minister has overseen a radical shift in Tokyo’s defense posture, moving away from the pacifist constitution imposed by the United States in the aftermath of World War II, to increase spending on defense at around 2% of the defense budget. its GDP by 2027 and acquire counterattack capabilities.

The move is not without controversy, particularly in China and other parts of Asia that suffered immensely from Japanese militarism during World War II.

Asked about the shift, Kishida highlighted the “serious and complex” security environment surrounding his East Asian country, the world’s fourth-largest economy.

“In our neighborhood, there are countries that are developing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons, and others that are strengthening their defense capabilities in an opaque manner. Furthermore, there is a unilateral attempt to change the status quo, by force, in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea,” he said, apparently referring to maritime aggression Chinese linked to territorial disputes with the Philippines and Japan.

Building Japan’s deterrence and response capability is also “critical” to the alliance with the United States, he argued.

“I hope the United States understands this and we can work together to improve peace and stability in the region.” I think it is important to show the rest of the world that the United States and Japan will further evolve their collaboration, through my visit,” Kishida said.

Next week’s events will also provide a platform for further expansion between Japan and another key U.S. regional partner and Mutual Defense Treaty ally, the Philippines.

It comes less than a year after a groundbreaking meeting between the United States, Japan and South Korea – with both summits highlighting Japan’s central role in America’s Indo-Pacific security strategy and the need to increase security. coordination with allies and partners amid growing regional tensions. .

‘Stronger than ever’

Kishida’s visit with Biden next week also comes as both leaders face uncertain circumstances at home.

Japan’s prime minister is struggling with dismal approval ratings, mainly following scandals involving his party, and the looming U.S. election raises the possibility of a political shakeup if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House next year.

Both during his administration and in recent years, Trump has repeatedly thrown cold water on Washington’s defense and security treaties, rattling allies in Asia and Europe.

Kishida declined to say whether he was concerned about the former president’s return. Instead, he expressed his belief that the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance was widely recognized “regardless of party affiliation.”

“Relations between Japan and the United States have become stronger than ever… Regardless of the outcome of the presidential election, I think it is important to ensure that the American people recognize the importance relations between Japan and the United States,” he said. .

Since taking office, Kishida has also positioned Japan as a partner of the United States, not only in Asia, but globally.

He has argued that security in Europe and the Indo-Pacific are inextricably linked, while appearing to be a strong supporter of Ukraine and closely aligning himself with the G7 countries’ stance on Russia. .

These ties are close for Japan, as Russian and Chinese militaries conduct joint exercises in the region and North Korea is now accused by G7 countries of supplying Moscow with weapons for its war in Ukraine – sparking global concerns about the emergence of a risk. axis between the three countries which all have tense relations with the United States.

Kishida also noted that his government was making “high-level representations” to secure a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resolve “outstanding issues” and promote stable relations between the two countries.

Japan, alongside South Korea, is on the front lines of North Korea’s aggressive weapons testing program, with its test missiles regularly falling into regional waters. The issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea more than decades ago also remains a particularly emotional point of contention.

Kishida said his government was monitoring equipment exchanges between Pyongyang and Moscow and highlighted joint military exercises by China and Russia, calling the cooperation “concerning, as far as international order and stability are concerned.” .

“At the same time, it is important to send a strong message to North Korea and China that it is important for the peace, stability and prosperity of the international community to maintain a free and open international order based on the rule of law. ” Kishida said.

“We must also cooperate with them to promote a strong international community, not one of division and confrontation,” he added. “I believe it is important to cooperate with the United States and our allies to create an atmosphere of cooperation, not division and confrontation, in order to advance the international community.”

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