Photo/Illutration Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba speaks to reporters at the prime minister’s office on Oct. 2 after a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden. (Takeshi Iwashita)

Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba told U.S. President Joe Biden that he intends to further bolster the bilateral alliance strengthened by his predecessor and Biden.

“The Japan-U.S. alliance was greatly reinforced by former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Biden,” Ishiba told reporters on Oct. 2 after he talked with Biden over the phone. “I said I want to take over that policy and further enhance it.”

Ishiba indicated that he did not raise the issue of revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which he has long emphasized.

“I did not go into specifics,” he said. “I want to discuss the issue in the future when I find an opportunity.”

Ishiba said the two leaders agreed to strengthen the network of allies and like-minded countries, including the trilateral framework of Japan, the United States and South Korea.

They also confirmed that they will arrange for a three-way summit with South Korea and other meetings at an early date.

The phone conversation with Biden was the first discussion Ishiba has held with a foreign leader since he was elected prime minister on Oct. 1.

In a statement on the exchange, the White House quoted Biden as saying that “he looked forward to working closely with Prime Minister Ishiba to continue deepening the U.S.-Japan global partnership across the full range of security, economic, technology and diplomatic issues.”

China’s foreign ministry announced on Oct. 2 that Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Ishiba.

Xi expressed hope that Japan will work with China to “comprehensively advance the strategic and mutually beneficial relationship and build constructive and stable China-Japan relations that meet the requirements of the new era.” 

The Xi leadership is believed to be wary of Ishiba's security policies and will likely observe the new prime minister's stances closely for the time being. Among these policies is Ishiba's proposal to create an Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Ishiba on Oct. 2 also spoke with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol over the phone.

They agreed to work closely together to further develop Japan-South Korea relations, including the leaders continuing to visit each other’s country.

(This article was written by Taro Kotegawa in Tokyo, Ryo Kiyomiya in Washington, Sotaro Hata in Beijing and Akihiko Kaise in Seoul.)

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