Japanese Prime Minister Holds Phone Talks with U.S. and Australian Heads of State

Japanese Prime Minister Kan Yoshihide held telephone conversations with U.S. President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Morrison on the evening of February 20, marking the first time Kan has had a telephone conversation with a foreign head of state since becoming prime minister.

During the talks, the U.S. and Japanese leaders agreed to work together to strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance. Trump said, “Together, we can further develop the U.S.-Japan alliance,” and Kan emphasized that “the U.S.-Japan alliance is the foundation for regional peace and stability,” and that he hoped to work with Trump to strengthen cooperation between the two sides. Fully agreed”. The two leaders also agreed on close cooperation between the two countries on the North Korean issue and on the response to the novel coronavirus infection.

On the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese nationals, Kan said, “Japan will take decisive measures for the early resolution of this issue,” and requested Trump’s full cooperation and support on the issue. The two also agreed on the realization of the idea of a “free and open Indo-Pacific.

Prior to this, Kan held a telephone conversation with Australian Prime Minister Morrison.

During the call, Kan noted that he would continue his predecessor Shinzo Abe’s emphasis on the trilateral security agreement between Japan, the United States, and Australia, and pointed to the importance of the “Quadripartite Agreement” with India, which China views as a way for the West to contain China’s “free and open Indo-Pacific” policy. The Rudd Labor Party, which came to power in 2007, emphasized economic and trade relations and multi-sectoral contacts with China, and was cautious about the Quadripartite Agreement. The Morrison regime, on the other hand, has a positive attitude toward the Quadripartite Agreement.

At the same time, in order to check China’s frequent activities in the South China Sea and East China Sea, and to promote the concept of a “free and open Indo-Pacific” that emphasizes laws and international rules, the U.S., Australia, Japan and other countries will coordinate their efforts in the direction of the four foreign ministers’ meeting in Tokyo in October.

It is expected that Kan will hold talks with the foreign ministers of the four countries, which, if realized, will be the first visit to Japan by a foreign ministerial official since the March neocoronavirus epidemic.