[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida embarked on his first official diplomatic activities since taking office by holding a video conference with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison following a phone call with U.S. President Joe Biden. He particularly emphasized welcoming the recent establishment of the military alliance 'AUKUS' formed by Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and pledged to continue close cooperation in countering China in the future.
According to NHK and other local Japanese media on the 5th, Prime Minister Kishida held a video call with Prime Minister Morrison for about 20 minutes around 11 a.m. The two leaders first exchanged congratulations on Kishida’s inauguration and then discussed strengthening counter-China measures as members of the Quad military alliance and enhancing military cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region as the main agenda.
The Japanese government stated, "Prime Minister Kishida expressed his welcome for the establishment of AUKUS and agreed to jointly respond to China’s unilateral territorial claims and economic retaliation threats in the East China Sea and South China Sea," adding, "They also confirmed continued cooperation in responding to North Korea’s recent missile provocations and the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens."
Prior to the video conference with Prime Minister Morrison, Kishida also held his first phone call with President Biden around 8 a.m. During the approximately 20-minute call, Kishida reaffirmed his stance on counter-China measures and cooperation to resolve the issue of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens.
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