Biden to meet with Japan PM to discuss number of issues
2023.01.11 13:03
Biden to meet with Japan PM to discuss number of issues
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – A senior administration official told Reuters that during the summit talks on Friday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan’s Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are expected to talk about joint security issues as well as the global economy.
According to the official, control of semiconductor exports to their strategic rival China is likely to be a topic of discussion between the close allies after the United States announced severe restrictions last year.
The official stated that Washington is collaborating closely with Japan on the issue and believes they share a similar vision, despite the fact that their legal structures are distinct. Additionally, the official stated that the effectiveness of the controls would increase if more countries and significant players supported them.
The official stated, “There will be discussion about technology and the importance of both preserving our own advantages and ensuring that we are applying appropriate controls and safeguards to do that.”
Kishida has stated that he supports Biden’s effort to impose export restrictions on China in order to restrict its access to advanced semiconductors. However, he has not agreed to match the sweeping restrictions placed on chip manufacturing equipment exports in October by the US government.
The U.S. official responded when questioned as to whether the two sides agreed on the matter:
“With them, we’re working very well. I believe there is a very, very similar conception of the difficulties. It’s hard to say that it will be exactly the same because you have different legal structures and systems, but I don’t think the Japanese question the fundamental premise that we need to work together on this.”
The official said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s military buildup, and threats from North Korea had prompted Japan to take a stronger security role. He was referring to the massive defense reforms that Japan announced last month.
He stated, “What’s really remarkable is that ten years ago this would have pretty much been unimaginable.”
Speaking ahead of a meeting of the U.S. foreign and defense ministers on Wednesday, the official also said that Article 5 of the security treaty between the U.S. and Japan will be expanded to include space.
He stated, “Basically, what we are saying is that we will be announcing that our security guarantees apply in space as well.”
The official stated that North Korea’s decision to exponentially increase its nuclear force, codify their right to first strike, and harsh rhetoric had “clearly changed the strategic reality” and made the possibility of a North Korean nuclear test now “much more destabilizing.” North Korea is Japan’s neighbor.
He stated that the United States’ perspective remained the same and that a test—the first since 2017—could occur at any time.
The official stated that Washington would like to see stronger sanctions against North Korea enforced and that Washington was concerned about this. He stated, “The fact of the matter is that the North Koreans are choosing to prioritize their missile program over many other things.”
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