Remarks by President Biden and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan in Joint Press Conference
MAY 23, 2022
Location: Tokyo, Japan

2:16 P.M. JST

PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA:   (As interpreted.)  Well, thank you.  We are immensely pleased with President Biden’s first visit to Japan as the President of the United States.

The United States is Japan’s only ally who shares the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and rule of law.

It goes without saying that Japan-U.S. alliance is the linchpin of Japan’s diplomatic and security policy.  The Japan-U.S. summit this time, in this context, was more important than ever in respect of two points.

For one, we are currently faced with a crisis that shakes the foundation of international order, which is Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.  To defend a resolutely free and open international order based on the rule of law, unity amongst allies and likeminded countries are required utmost now than any other.

Another thing is that the challenge of ensuring peace and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region is the most important strategic issue for the international community, and Japan and the United States are thought to take on leadership role. 

In this sense, we highly value the visit by President Biden to Japan, as it powerfully demonstrates United States’ enhanced engagement in this part of the region.

Also, together with President Biden, we will later make tomorrow’s Quad Summit a sure success.

Based on this common awareness, today, frank and useful discussion took place on matters of international community.

First, on Russia’s egregious aggression, unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force is totally unacceptable.  Regardless of location, we reaffirm to respond resolutely together with the international community, including G7.

Also, confirmation was made to support fully the government and people of Ukraine. 

We also discussed the impact the Ukraine situation could give on the Indo-Pacific. 

For China, we concurred to monitor closely recent activities of Chinese navy and joint military exercise of China and Russia, and strongly oppose the attempt to change the status quo by force.

In East China Sea and South China Sea, the Japan and the United States will closely cooperate on responding to China-related issue, including human rights.

Also, we affirmed that our two countries’ basic position on Taiwan remains to be unchanged; and underscored the importance of peace and stability of Taiwan Straits, which is an indispensable element for peace and prosperity of the international community; and called for peaceful resolution of Cross-Strait issue.

On DPRK, sharing the serious concern over nuclear and missile issues, including the launch of ICBM-class ballistic missiles.  Japan and the United States and Japan-U.S.-ROK to cooperate to even more closely was affirmed.

Toward immediate resolution of abduction issue, I reiterated my request for full understanding and cooperation.  President Biden extended his strong support.  After this, President Biden will be meeting with family members of the abductees. 

At a time when regional security environment is becoming more severe, with President Biden we affirmed the need to quickly reinforce the deterrence and response capability of Japan-U.S. alliances.  I stated my determination to fundamentally reinforce Japan’s defense capabilities and secure a substantial increase of its defense budget needed to effect it.  President Biden strongly supported my determination.

We also concurred to expand and deepen security and defense cooperation between Japan and the United States.  Further, President Biden reiterated his commitment to Japan’s defense.  And to make sure that extended deterrence will remain unwavering, we concurred to keeping close touch, including on the ministerial level, between our two countries.

In addition, to alleviate the impact on local communities of Okinawa and others, we also concurred to steadfastly implement U.S. forces in Japan realignment, including construction in Henoko of replacement facilities Futenma Air Station. 

And because situation around the nuclear weapons are getting severe, we also concurred at once realistic and effective efforts on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and work toward a world without nuclear weapons.

Engagement in the Indo-Pacific by the United States, and especially in the economic order, is becoming ever more important.  Japan welcomes the launch of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework — IPEF — by President Biden, and will participate and cooperate in this initiative.  Having said so, Japan hopes to see the United States return to the TPP from a strategic perspective. 

Also, in order to expand and deepen Japan-U.S. economic cooperation, we agreed to hold the ministerial-level Japan-U.S. Economic Policy Consultative Committee, the so-called economic 2+2, coming July.

Further, we concurred on cooperation in economic security, including the development of advanced semiconductors and specific cooperation regarding space.

With Russia’s aggression of Ukraine severely damaging the situation over energy and food, we confirmed that we shall respond through coordination with the G7 and likeminded nations, as well as with international organizations.  Through such cooperation, Japan and the United States hopes to engage in initiatives to realize a sustainable and inclusive social economic environment.

Regarding the new form of capitalism, which I am proposing, President Biden reconfirmed his strong support.  By cooperating with President Biden, who is promoting policies that focus on the middle class, we hope to create a major global trend of common economic policies among major countries.

We also exchanged views on global health, cancer research, climate change, production and promotion of human rights and democracy, and other global challenges, and agreed that our two countries should lead efforts of the international community in such areas.

Further, I expressed the necessity to reform and strengthen the United Nations, including the Security Council, which bears an important responsibility for the peace and security of the international community, and gained President Biden’s support.

The President stated that the United States will support Japan becoming a permanent member of a reformed Security Council. 

“The Pacific Ocean does not separate Japan and the United States.  Rather, it unites us.”  Those are the words delivered by President Kennedy to Prime Minister Ikeda, which resonate with amplified weight in today’s context.