Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific with US President Joe Biden

The two leaders are to hold video talks on Friday, with security, trade, the coronavirus and climate change all likely to be discussed

Shared concerns about China’s actions in the region are also expected to feature and Beijing will be watching for any mention of Taiwan, analysts say

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Chinese and Japanese vessels near the East China Sea islands known as the Diaoyus in China and the Senkakus in Japan. Photo: Kyodo

Published: 9:00pm, 20 Jan 2022

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is due to hold talks via video link with US President Joe Biden on Friday, with security issues, trade, the fight against the coronavirus pandemic and climate change all high on the agenda – although analysts suggest the biggest positive from Japan’s perspective is that talks between the two leaders are finally taking place.

Speaking in Tokyo, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said the discussions were expected to underline the importance of the Japan-US alliance and the two nations’ commitment to ensuring a “free and open” Indo-Pacific region.

“We hope the first virtual meeting in 2022 between the two leaders will serve as an occasion to show the world the unwavering bond under the Japan-US alliance and take it to a higher level,” Matsuno said.

That position was echoed in Washington by White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, who said the meeting would “highlight the strength of the US-Japan alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world”.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Photo: AFP

Kishida and Biden spoke on the telephone in October, shortly after Kishida replaced Yoshihide Suga as prime minister, and had a brief conversation on the sidelines of the United Nations climate summit in Scotland in November, but more substantive discussions have had to be delayed, to Japan’s discomfort.