Japan's new Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba pledged to stick to the vital Japan-U.S. alliance while calling for it to be more equitable after he took office Tuesday vowing to tackle a slow economy and regain public trust before an upcoming election.
Shigeru Ishiba replaced Fumio Kishida, who stepped down to pave the way for a fresh leader after scandals dogged his government.
In a show of Japan's respect to its most important ally, the United States, Ishiba spoke by telephone with President Joe Biden early Wednesday and told reporters he reassured Biden of his plan to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance that Biden and Kishida have significantly elevated.
His new cabinet emphasizes defense and a majority of its members, including Ishiba himself, are unaffiliated with factions led and controlled by Liberal Democratic Party heavyweights, and none is from the late Shinzo Abe’s faction that has been linked to damaging misconduct.
Speaking to reporters at the prime minister’s office for the first time following a palace ceremony, Ishiba called for stronger military cooperation with like-minded partners. He has been vocal about his wish to form a NATO-like alliance in the region.
He said that one of his policy's main goals was to protect Japan as “the security environment surrounding us is the toughest since the end of World War II.”
Ishiba renewed his proposal of a more equal Japan-U.S. security alliance, including joint management of U.S. bases in Japan and having Japanese bases in the United States, which would require changes to a bilateral forces agreement. He called the current alliance “asymmetrical.”
“The measure would contribute to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance,” Ishiba said. “I've advocated the idea for more than 20 years and obviously it's not going to happen suddenly just because I became prime minister." He also said he hadn't assigned the matter to his Cabinet as an urgent task. “But I will not give up and will steadily work on it."
He said Wednesday that he did not raise the issue on his call with Biden but would find the chance to do so later.
Ishiba said he told Biden that he will strengthen Kishida's defense and diplomatic policies while bolstering networks that include South Korea and other like-minded countries. Japan's national security strategy adopted by Kishida's government in 2022 calls for accelerating a Japanese military buildup.
Ishiba earlier said he would call for a snap election on Oct 27 and named former Environment Minister Shinjiro Koizumi to head the party’s election task force. On Tuesday, he said he intended to dissolve the lower house on Oct. 9 so his new administration could obtain “the people’s verdict” as soon as possible.
During Tuesday's parliament session, opposition leaders criticized Ishiba for announcing such a plan before even becoming prime minister and allowing only several days for his policies to be examined and discussed before a national election. They delayed the vote required to approve his new post for about half an hour, despite not having the power to affect it, signaling a rocky beginning for Ishiba.
Ishiba appointed several ministers who voted for him in the party leadership poll, including two former defense ministers with whom he had worked closely — Takeshi Iwaya as foreign minister and Gen Nakatani as defense chief. He retained Kishida's top confidante, Yoshimasa Hayashi, as chief Cabinet secretary and appointed Katsunobu Kato as finance minister.
Only two of the 19 ministers are women: actor-turned-lawmaker Junko Mihara as children’s policy minister and Toshiko Abe as education minister. The government is under pressure to increase the number of women in public office. Women now account for only 10% of the lower house, placing Japan near the bottom of global gender-equality rankings.
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24 Comments
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OssanAmerica
Absolute nonsense. The militant expansionist empire today is the Chinese dictatorship.
OssanAmerica
The One-China policy, to the extent that Beijing is the sole government of "China" is recognized by the United States.
However, it does not recognize Beijing's sovereignty over Taiwan and it never has. Hence the US has continued to support Taiwan through the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
China's own interpretation is that the One-China policy includes sovereignty over Taiwan.
We are very much already in a cold war. China's all fronts war as evidenced by their passive assault on American society through the media and Social Networks, hacking and attacking US infrastructure are all known.
What all the Asian nations do not want is a regional war, and if China sincerely seeks peace, then it should resolutely denounce the option to "take" Taiwan by military force.
obladi
strengthen economy while spending money on defense. Something's missing here...
TaiwanIsNotChina
Under pressure from the baby nation only.
The only peaceful resolution is the PRC accepting it will never control Taiwan.
OssanAmerica
If so, please don't bother addressing me with a question.
albaleo
In 1971, Taiwan was a one-party state under martial law. Now it has a democratically elected government. I think it is for the people of Taiwan to determine their future.
itsonlyrocknroll
The despot government of china has in effect Japan Governments hand.
Japan needs an ultimate offshore deterrent, to match any overwhelming force.
To depend on any foreign power, even treaty bound, to step in to launch into a fully fledged war is simply frivolous, open to interpretation.
US forward bases contributed for by J taxpayers money, primary purpose is to protect US mainland interests first and foremost.
It would be naïve to suggest otherwise.
The government of china is continuing to harass Japan, its economy, its airspace, its seas, its neighbours.
The government of china is belligerently encroaching on East and South China seas claiming the trading shipping routes as it sole property.
The fortified sand castles, the threats to Taiwan.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba must enact his own agenda. his own policies, make his mark.
I suspect Shigeru Ishiba will be led by faceless kingmakers that offered him the top chair.
I hope I am proved wrong.
OssanAmerica
The Asian nations are not ready for a NATO like security agreement today. Hence, the U.S. reliance on several bilateral defense treaties.
However, if and when China invades Taiwan in 2027-2030, rest assured that all the Asian nations will fall into line to form a NATO-like alliance, including India. It is a concept that must be kept alive and on the burner, and let China ponder if that is something it would like to see surrounding it.
TaiwanIsNotChina
That's great but India wouldn't have been a very good partner anyways.
theFu
Eventually, the non-autocratic countries will band together to disrupt autocratic country goals. Hopefully, a war isn't needed for that to happen.
India needs fuel from Russia, so it doesn't want to bicker with China and have their fuel supplies impacted. Can't say that I blame them, but India isn't stupid. They know things need to change and hope that cheaper, renewable, power is the answer. It can't come fast enough to the world so that India can end their Russian ties. The Indian Govt knows this too.
Japan, SK, AUS, NZ, Taiwan, and the US will be the cornerstone because they are the most prosperous. Others will join as it becomes clear they need to join for protection. The Philippines would join today, if offered. Many Pacific Island nations will join when they finally feel threatened. When Vietnam joins China will be pissed off. Indonesia, Thailand, and perhaps Malaysia will join when they feel threatened.
When Mongolia joins, China will freak out. I suspect Mongolia will try to be like Switzerland for as long as possible and I can't blame them.
I just hope the CCP is thrown from power and a multi-party, democratic country is achieved before too long. That is best for the region, but we've seen in Russia how hard that can be for the older generation to switch from autocratic rule to democracy.
voiceofokinawa
According to the Japan-U.S Security Treaty, only the Army, the Navy and the Air Force are allowed to be stationed in Japan. The Marines are excluded here, and yet in Okinawa, in particular, they use more than 70 percent of the land and facilities the U. S. forces use, pretending they are the Navy.
The Marine Corps is attached to the Department of the Navy in the Pentagon all right, but that's only for the sake of convenience. The Marine Corps is a service completely independent of the Navy in terms of the chain of command as well as due to the fact the top of it can be a Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. Superseding a Navy admiral.
Ishiba looks like a strong leader, but I hope he will not be a person who is weak before the strong; only strong before the weak.
voiceofokinawa
(Re-submitted)
According to the Japan-U.S Security Treaty, only the U.S. Army, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Air Force are allowed to be stationed in Japan. The Marines are excluded here, and yet in Okinawa, in particular, they use more than 70 percent of the land and facilities all the U. S. forces use, pretending they are the Navy.
The Marine Corps is attached to the Department of the Navy in the Pentagon all right, but that's only for the sake of convenience. The Marine Corps is a service completely independent of the Navy in terms of the chain of command as well as due to the fact the top of it can be a Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, superseding a Navy admiral.
Ishiba looks like a strong leader, but I hope he will not be a person who is weak before the strong; only strong before the weak.
Eastmann
business as usual.
honest question-did you expect any different outcome?
Michael Machida
Vows. Stives. Considering. Thinking about...
TokyoLiving
More pathetic servilism under the empire of evil..
elephant200
Keep wasting Japan everyone's time, Mr.Ishiba. You are not backed by heavy weight boss, you are just as pointless as Kishida-san. You can't reforming the LDP bureaucracy, it was just too big. Two or three or maybe shorter years, we will learn what kind of achievements you done!
Yrral
As long as Chinese send the 1.25 ct product to America, American do not care , Japanese cannot offer US anything at that price,but China offer 100 of billion of them,beside China want to get paid their 100 if billion of dollars in bonds
Yrral
American do not need insecure Japanese leaders,that just running their mouth, American are not threatening by China by the insecure
Yrral
Japan PM rambling about World War 2,it did not end so well for Japan, reminiscing of past Japan delusion wars
JJE
By "NATO-like alliance in the region" he actually means Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere 2.0.
deanzaZZR
That didn't take long. India rejects Japan’s call for ‘Asian Nato’, despite growing tensions with China https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3280727/india-rejects-japans-call-asian-nato-despite-growing-tensions-china?utm_source=rss_feed
deanzaZZR
All surrounding countries adhere to the One China Policy. Sadly the USA is doing everything that it can to cause friction and uncertainty across the strait instead of promoting a peaceful resolution of the Chinese Civil War. Sadder still Ishiba may buy into the USA Cold War type thinking as well so patience is warranted.
Dango bong
A lot of vowing but nothing changes
deanzaZZR
Puzzle me this @OssanAmerica although I'm sure you will dance around the issue. When the Republic of China served as a founding member of the United Nations and a permanent Security Council Member did the ROC serve as the representative of the island of Taiwan only or of the whole expanse of China stretching from Heilongjiang the furthest east to Xinjiang in the West?
According to UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 the PRC replaced the ROC government in 1971 in the United Nations. Logic suggests that the PRC now represents ALL of China just as the ROC/Taiwan government did up until that date.
It makes me chuckle to think that any regime bottled up on the island of Taiwan would be a permanent member of the UN Security Council. Please explain.