Biden and Suga "Cooperate on China and North Korea Issues... Joint Response to 5G and Semiconductors" (Summary)

Joint Press Conference After ROK-US-Japan Summit
Confirming Cooperation on Pressuring China... Agreeing on Joint Response to North Korea's Denuclearization
Emphasizing the Need for ROK-US-Japan Cooperation

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] U.S. President Joe Biden announced on the 16th (local time) that the United States and Japan have agreed to cooperate on issues related to China and North Korea. The two leaders also agreed to jointly invest in 5th generation (5G) technology and semiconductor supply chains.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

President Biden stated at a joint press conference following his first face-to-face summit with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide at the White House, "We have committed to cooperating in addressing challenges from China, as well as issues concerning the East China Sea, South China Sea, and North Korea, to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific future."

He emphasized that Japan and the United States are two strong democracies in the Indo-Pacific region and said, "We are dedicated to upholding and advancing our shared values, including human rights and the rule of law."

President Biden also mentioned that the two countries have agreed to invest together in areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, genomics, and semiconductor supply chains.

He added that the two leaders have committed to cooperating on climate change issues and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Prime Minister Suga, taking the microphone, said, "We agreed on the recognition that trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan has become unprecedentedly important for responding to North Korea and for peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region."

Prime Minister Suga also stated, "Regarding North Korea, we agreed to strongly demand a commitment to CVID (Complete, Verifiable, and Irreversible Denuclearization) of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles of all ranges, and adherence to obligations based on United Nations Security Council resolutions."

He revealed that both countries shared the view that the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea must be resolved promptly.

Prime Minister Suga mentioned the necessity of a firm response to China. He said, "We agreed to oppose attempts to change the status quo by force in the East China Sea or South China Sea and intimidation of regional actors."

He specifically introduced, "We discussed the situation surrounding Taiwan and the Xinjiang Uyghur region," and explained, "The U.S. and Japan agreed on the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait."

Some have been paying attention to whether the U.S.-Japan leaders would express their views on Taiwan after the summit.

Prime Minister Suga also expressed his determination to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as a symbol of global unity, and President Biden reportedly supported this.

During the meeting, President Biden showed camaraderie by calling Prime Minister Suga "Yoshi." Last month, during the virtual Quad summit involving the U.S., Japan, India, and Australia, Prime Minister Suga called President Biden "Hey, Joe."

President Biden and Prime Minister Suga began a private summit around 1:50 p.m. in the White House Oval Office after having lunch and tea. From 3:10 p.m., an expanded summit was held in the White House State Dining Room.

At the expanded summit, President Biden was accompanied by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

Prime Minister Suga was accompanied by Chief Cabinet Secretary Sakai Manabu, National Security Director Kitamura Shigeru, and Prime Minister’s Advisor Izumi Hiroto, but unlike the U.S., no ministers from other departments attended.