Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with U.S. President Joe Biden and attended a summit of the Quad nations in Wilmington, Del., on Saturday. Kishida has been working to strengthen Japan-U.S.-based multilateral cooperation, particularly with China in mind. This visit to the United States is seen as a crucial moment for Kishida’s diplomacy, and he hopes to pass on his diplomatic efforts to the next prime minister.
This trip marks Kishida’s final overseas visit as Japan’s leader, as he is expected to leave office soon. During the Quad summit, Kishida emphasized the collaborative efforts of Japan, the United States, Australia, and India throughout his tenure. He viewed this gathering as an appropriate meeting for his last overseas trip.
The Quad summit was significant because it reflected on previous meetings held in Hiroshima last year and highlighted strengthened collaboration among its members. The Wilmington Declaration released at the summit stated that “the Quad is more strategically aligned than ever before.”
Both Kishida and Biden prioritize the Quad due to concerns about China’s aggressive military activities in the East and South China Seas. The Biden administration has increased its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region as a top foreign policy priority.
Kishida has also worked towards strengthening defense capabilities and cooperation with South Korea while improving relations with them. Additionally, Japan and the United States are actively cooperating with the Philippines regarding their territorial dispute with China in the South China Sea.
During his visit, Kishida was invited to Biden’s private residence in Delaware, which showcased their close relationship. Biden praised Kishida’s leadership over three years for enhancing Japan’s defense capabilities and transforming its role globally.
Kishida called for expanding collaboration between multiple countries beyond just those involved in Quad discussions by including emerging and developing countries from around the world.
However, there are uncertainties ahead due to upcoming leadership changes in both Japan and America. Additionally, Southeast Asian countries value their relationship with China which may impact further expansion of multilateral cooperation beyond current participants like Philippines.
The focus now shifts towards how new leaders from Japan and America will maintain and strengthen this framework of multilateral cooperation beyond existing partnerships like that with Philippines.
