U.S. Secretary of State John Blinken meets with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimichi Motegi during a visit to Tokyo. Both sides said the U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of maintaining peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Blinken also said that working together to address the Chinese Communist threat and realize the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region are important factors that bring the U.S. and Japan together.
Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimichi Mogi (Reuters file photo, Jan. 8, 2021)
The two foreign ministers met with the media before holding bilateral talks.
I highly appreciate the Biden administration’s unwavering commitment to the alliance between the two countries and to the well-being of the people of the Indo-Pacific region,” Toshimichi Shigeki said. It is gratifying that Prime Minister Kan plans to visit the United States in early April of this year, becoming the first foreign leader to visit the United States under the new administration. I believe this will be an excellent opportunity to reconfirm the strong Japan-U.S. relationship and make that message clear to the outside world.”
In his remarks, Blinken, who is making his first foreign trip since taking office as secretary of state, spoke directly to the Chinese Communist factor in the unbreakable U.S.-Japan alliance. He said, “We believe in democracy, human rights and the rule of law. We’ve seen in our respective countries that those values actually make us stronger, but those values are under threat in the region and in many other places, whether it’s in Burma or in the Chinese Communist Party, which poses a threat in different ways. But I think what brings us together is a shared vision of freedom and openness in the Indo-Pacific. And as allies and friends, we will work together to realize that vision.
U.S. and Japanese Foreign Ministers and Defense Ministers 2+2 Talks in Tokyo on March 16, 2021
The foreign ministers met and were joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi for U.S.-Japan “2 plus 2” talks.
In a statement, the Pentagon said Secretary Austin told reporters on his way to Asia: “The Chinese Communist Party is our main threat. Our goal is to ensure that we have capabilities, operational plans and concepts that can create a credible deterrent to the Chinese Communist Party or anyone who wants to stand up to the United States.”
Still, Washington has demonstrated a willingness to engage in dialogue with Beijing.
Secretary of State John Blinken and White House National Security Adviser Sullivan are expected to meet later this week in Anchorage, Alaska, with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Communist Party’s Central Committee Political Bureau in charge of foreign affairs, and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. This will be the first high-level bilateral meeting between officials of the two countries since the Biden Administration took office on Jan. 20.
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