- President Biden's visit to Japan emphasized strengthening international alliances at the G7 summit, addressing key issues like China's growing power, Russia's actions in Ukraine, and the impact of artificial intelligence.
- Japan, responding to regional threats, is transitioning to a more assertive foreign policy, symbolized by its major military expansion since World War II and Prime Minister Kishida's unprecedented visit to war-torn Kyiv.
Bolstering International Alliances: The G7 Summit and Beyond
A key event during his visit was the G7 summit, a platform that brings together leaders of some of the world's largest economies.
While his visit was cut short due to the urgent matter of debt ceiling negotiations, Biden utilized the G7 summit as an opportunity to garner support to confront Beijing's growing military and economic aggressions.
Another crucial issue on the G7 agenda was the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The leaders wanted to show the public that they were all on the same sheet of music when dealing with Russia, projecting a united front. One country present, Germany, had just secured billions in funding for Ukraine last week.
They also covered concerns about the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence. The focus was on broad impacts of the technology on global stability, but also on user privacy. Italy was the first Western country to ban ChatGPT citing privacy concerns, subsequently lifting the ban last month.
Before the summit, Biden's meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was a clear indication of the robustness of their relationship, especially when it comes to dealing with shared security challenges such as Chinese aggression.
Biden underscored some similarities between his administration and Japan, mentioning their joint support for Ukraine and nuclear nonproliferation. He also highlighted the deepening cooperation on emerging technologies, with new partnerships on quantum computing and semiconductors marking a new chapter in U.S-Japan relations.
Japan's Robust Foreign Policy Amid Global Tensions
In the wake of Russia-Ukraine war and China’s growing military assertiveness, Japan has opted for a robust approach to its foreign policy. This decision has been applauded by the White House, reflecting an alignment in the foreign policies, and interests, of the United States and Japan.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in December, announced Japan’s most substantial military buildup since World War II. This move signaled a departure from Japan’s traditionally pacifist constitution in response to the escalating threats from regional rivals, particularly China.
Notably, Kishida's secret trip to Kyiv in March marked a significant milestone, making him the first post-World War II leader to visit a war zone. This visit helped cement the perception of Japan's foreign policy entering a new era, characterized by a more assertive stance on global security issues.
The selection of Hiroshima as the G7 summit host city was also symbolic. Hiroshima, a city with a tragic past due to the atomic bombing during World War II, served as a potent reminder to world leaders of the critical importance of diplomatic efforts to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.
Biden's visit to Hiroshima, the second by a U.S president since President Barack Obama in 2016, reflected the shared commitment of the U.S and Japan towards maintaining global peace in the face of growing nuclear threats.