Tokyo: During a meeting of Top Politicians of Japan and the US, the two countries criticized China for ‘coercion and aggression’ in Asia. This was the first interaction at the level of top ministers in the two countries since America’s President Joe Biden came to power in January. Beijing was severely criticized in a meeting held in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Biden administration wants to allay concerns of Asia allies
Through the visit of US ministers to Japan and South Korea, the Biden administration intends to address the concerns of its allies in Asia. In the administration of former US President Donald Trump, relations with these allies arose several times. US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin and Foreign Minister Antony Blinken held ‘two plus two’ talks with their Japanese counterparts, Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi, and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. After the talks, Blinken said that democracy and human rights are being challenged in the region and the United States will work together with its allies for a free and independent Indo-Pacific region.
The US to work with allies facing challenges due to China, North Korea
Blinken said the Biden administration is committed to working closely with US allies facing challenges due to China and its ally North Korea. He said, “If China adopts coercion and aggression, then we will push it back if necessary.” In a joint statement issued after the talks, the ministers called for China’s human rights violations in Xinjiang province, “illegal claims and activities of the maritime zone in the South China Sea”, and “changing the status quo” on Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Expressed serious concern over the “unilateral effort”. Significantly, China claims Japan-controlled islands in the East China Sea. The statement also stressed the importance of “peace and stability” in the Taiwan Strait.
North Korea threatens America
During the first foreign trip of the cabinet ministers of the Biden administration, Blinken and Austin and their Japanese counterparts agreed to work together on the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change. The two sides also agreed to cooperate on the North Korean nuclear threat and the situation arising out of the military coup in Myanmar. Soon after the two top US ministers arrived in Japan on Tuesday, Kim Jong-un, the sister of North Korea’s ruler Kim Jong Un, warned the US that if he “wants to sleep peacefully” for the next four years, he should ” “One should not stand up.” He also criticized military exercises between the US and South Korea. Kim Yo Jong’s statement on Tuesday is North Korea’s first official statement to the administration of US President Joe Biden.
Just did not choose Japan
Instead of inviting Japanese ministers to visit the United States, Biden has sent two of his top ministers to visit Japan, which is very important for the Asian country. Japan considers its partnership with the US as the foundation stone of its diplomatic and defense policies. During a conversation with Foreign Minister Motegi before the “Two Plus Two” talks, Blinken said, “We did not just choose Japan for the first cabinet-level visit.” He and Austin have come to strengthen the dedication to the coalition and take it further, he said. He said that the United States and its allies are working together on climate change, cybersecurity, and health security.
Opposition to China’s unilateral efforts
Blinken said the US and Japan reaffirmed the importance of their trilateral partnership with South Korea, but ministers did not say publicly about strained relations between Japan and South Korea over wartime compensation. After talks with Blinken, Motegi said the two ministers opposed China’s unilateral efforts to change the status quo in the region’s maritime areas.
Japan is also very sensitive about its economy
The Constitution of Japan prohibits the use of force to resolve any international issue and increasing its own military power in Asia is a sensitive issue. Japan is also in a very sensitive diplomatic position regarding its economy because its economy, like other countries in the region, is heavily dependent on China, but considers China’s growing maritime activities in the Japan region as a security threat. China has created man-made islands in the South China Sea and equipped them with military equipment. Not only this, it is claiming its rights on almost all the fish-rich areas and waterways of the South China Sea.
US-Japan talks should not target third parties – China
Japan rejects China’s claim to the Senkaku Islands under its control in the East China Sea and its growing activities in the disputed territory. In China, they are called Diaoyu Islands. China says it is only protecting its border rights. China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Jao Lijian said on Tuesday that the US
