Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he spoke with US President-elect Joe Biden by telephone on Thursday, Nov 12 and confirmed the importance of bilateral ties, as well as a ‘free and open Indo-Pacific’ region.
He made this known while speaking to reporters at his official residence shortly after the call. Mr Suga also said that both of them agreed to meet in person as soon as possible.
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‘President-elect Biden said that he looks forward to strengthening the US-Japan alliance and working together on achieving a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Mr Suga said to reporters, in separate comments made at the Prime Minister’s Office.’
China’s growing military and economic assertiveness in the region serves as a background for Japan’s hopes to see Mr Biden’s presidency restore a strong US-Japan alliance report says. Mr Biden assured Mr Suga that the security treaty between US and Japan covers East China Sea islands that are also claimed by China. Japan seeks assurances on the scope of the security treaty every time the US picks a new leader. Article Five of the treaty obliges both parties to ‘act to meet the common danger’ in the event of an armed attack on either party in territory administered by Japan.
As it stands now, the US did not recognise the disputed Island as part of Japan rather it sees it as being administered by Japan.
There is constant rancor between China and Japan as vessels belonging to both governments constantly chase one another around the islands known as Senkaku in Japan and Diaoyu in China.
Mr Suga also said he plans on working with Mr Biden on preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus and tackling climate change. Mr Suga has become one of many other leaders of major democracies in the world to speak with Biden despite the fact that US President Donald Trump continues to dispute the results of the election and sizable uncertainty still exists in the election matters.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK