The first ministerial talks on foreign affairs and defense between Japan and the United States will be held in Tokyo on the 16th after the inauguration of the Biden administration in the United States.

We would like to share our concerns about the rising China and show a strong Japan-US alliance both inside and outside the country toward the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific."

The so-called "2 plus 2" ministerial talks on foreign affairs and defense between Japan and the United States will be held in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 16th. Secretary of State Blinken and Minister of Defense Austin, who are visiting Japan as a foreign visit to Japan, will attend.



In the talks, the response to China, which is emerging economically and militarily, is expected to be the biggest theme, and the Maritime Police Law, which permits the use of weapons by the Maritime Police Law, will be enforced in the East China Sea and other areas. They are likely to share strong concerns about increasing marine expansion.



After that, it is expected to reconfirm that the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture are subject to Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty, which stipulates defense obligations by the United States.



A result document will be released after "2 plus 2", and a Japanese government official said, "It will be a document with a strong message based on the security environment of East Asia," and strongly restrains China. It shows the prospect of becoming content.



In addition, on the 16th, a foreign ministers'meeting, a defense ministers' meeting, and a meeting between Prime Minister Suga and Secretaries Blinken and Austin are scheduled, and through a series of meetings, toward the realization of a "free and open Indo-Pacific". , I would like to show a strong Japan-US alliance inside and outside.

US Secretary of State and Defense

It is extremely unusual for the US Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense to all choose Japan as their first foreign visit after the inauguration of the administration.



It seems that the background of the two ministers' visits to Asia immediately after the inauguration of the new administration is to show their opposition to China, which is trying to expand its influence in the Asia-Pacific region.



The Biden administration has positioned China as "the only country that has the power to take on serious challenges to the international order," and has indicated that it will take a strong stance on human rights issues and strengthening its armaments.



Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who oversees foreign affairs in China, in Alaska on March 18 with National Security Adviser Sullivan after a series of visits to Japan and South Korea. intend to do something.



"It will be an important opportunity to openly express concern about China's behavior that threatens the security, prosperity and values ​​of the United States and its allies," Blinken said at a hearing in the House of Representatives on the 10th. He stated that he would visit China and Japan, which are allies, to confirm cooperation on human rights issues and security, and then to meet with China.



In a series of visits by Secretaries Blinken and Austin, the former Trump administration's "America" ​​emphasized the position of the Biden administration, which emphasizes relations with allies who share values ​​such as democracy and the rule of law. It seems that there is also an aim to impress the shift from "first principle" to a diplomatic policy that emphasizes international cooperation.