U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is visiting Tokyo, praised Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as a “force for good,” saying, “The United States has every reason to believe that his role as prime minister of Japan will strengthen our two countries’ enduring alliance.
Pompeo made the statement Tuesday (Oct. 6, 2020) during a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Mogi. According to his itinerary, he will meet directly with Prime Minister Kan later that day.
Pompeo’s trip to Asia would have also included visits to Mongolia and South Korea, but was cut short after President Trump was hospitalized after being diagnosed with the new coronavirus, keeping only the Japan portion of the trip.
A major item on Pompeo’s Tokyo agenda is to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of the United States, Japan, Australia and India to discuss pressing issues in the Indo-Pacific region.
He told reporters at the airport before his departure on Sunday that the U.S. had prepared long and hard for his meeting with the Quadrilateral Partnership partners. He added that the U.S. hopes the meeting of the Quadrilateral Foreign Ministers will produce significant results and make significant announcements.
Australia’s Foreign Minister Payne tweeted early Tuesday after meeting with Pompeo that the two discussed ongoing cooperation between the two countries to advance regional peace, stability and prosperity.
The United States sees the Quadrilateral Cooperation Mechanism as an important platform to unite against Beijing’s aggressive behavior.
Beijing has criticized the United States for trying to use the Quartet to contain China’s development in Asia.
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