On Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida presented a series of military cooperation plans and projects, ranging from missiles to lunar exploration, reinforcing their alliance with a focus on countering China and Russia's assertive moves.

The joint press conference held at the White House underscored Japan's growing significance on the global stage and its importance to the United States, as the two leaders expressed their positions on various international hotspots, including Gaza and Israel, Ukraine and Russia, and North Korea – according to Reuters.

However, discussions did not touch upon one of the most critical economic issues between the two nations: the acquisition of American steel giant US Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel. The discussions centered primarily on geopolitical issues, particularly in the Pacific region, where both countries are closely monitoring China's expanding influence.

The United States, along with its allies including Japan, has strengthened its military forces and presence in the region as a countermeasure to China's growing threats in the South and East China Seas and to deter any attempts to take over Taiwan. Chinese leader Xi Jinping recently stated that external interference would not stop the island's "reunification" with mainland China.

"Any attempts to unilaterally change the status quo by force or coercion are wholly unacceptable, wherever they be," stated Kishida, affirming that the United States and Japan will respond to such actions, including challenges from China.

Regarding Russia's aggression in Ukraine, Kishida added, "Today Ukraine, tomorrow it could be East Asia that falls victim to military aggression," emphasizing the volatile global security landscape. President Biden pledged to keep communication lines open with China, asserting that the U.S.-Japan alliance is defensive in nature. Biden had a discussion with Xi Jinping last week.

COMMON MILITARY STRUCTURE

The announcements from Biden and Kishida mark the closest collaboration since World War II, when the former wartime foes became allies decades ago. Biden revealed plans for their armies to work together under a common command structure and to develop a new missile defense network with Australia. Moreover, they announced that Japanese astronauts would participate in NASA's lunar missions.

In total, approximately 70 defense cooperation agreements were signed by the United States and Japan, including steps to modernize the American military command structure in Japan to better coordinate with Japanese forces during a crisis. Concerns were also discussed about the potential regional destabilization if Trump were to win a second term and seek a deal with China.

CHINESE THREAT

Japan, often cited as the United States' most crucial Asian ally and the largest source of direct foreign investment, has taken on a more significant global role following security law amendments that reshaped its pacifist constitution in the past decade. Kishida's visit to the U.S. also had a domestic agenda as his popularity has significantly decreased among voters.

The Japanese Prime Minister is scheduled to speak before the U.S. Congress on Thursday and will join Biden and Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the President of the Philippines, in discussions primarily centered on the threat posed by China in the South China Sea. Beijing has increasingly adopted a threatening stance towards not only Taiwan but also the Philippines, making territorial claims.

Kishida was warmly welcomed in Washington, with Japanese flags displayed throughout the capital. Distinguished guests attending a dinner in his honor included former President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, actor Robert De Niro, Amazon's Jeff Bezos, and Jerome Powell, the Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Entertainment was provided by musician Paul Simon, who opened his performance with the song "Graceland."

The discussions between the two leaders were also fruitful at a corporate level. Microsoft announced plans to invest $2.9 billion in Japan's artificial intelligence infrastructure, with participation from four universities, Nvidia, Amazon, and Softbank.

An agreement was reached for a Japanese astronaut to join the American Artemis project, aiming for a lunar mission in 2026. Furthermore, the two countries declared a partnership to accelerate the development and commercial exploitation of nuclear fusion, focusing on the scientific and technological challenges of achieving commercial fusion. This initiative extends the collaboration between American and Japanese universities, national laboratories, and private companies, as per the U.S. Department of Energy. A high-speed rail project in Texas, utilizing Japanese capital and technology, was also discussed.