Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday strengthening his country's alliance with the United States is key to regional security and expressed his desire to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
This comes amid worries about China’s increasingly assertive military activity, including violation of Japanese airspace and territorial waters and joint military drills with Russia around Japan, and North Korea’s repeated test-firings of ballistic missiles as part of its nuclear and missile development programs.
Ishiba leads a minority government following a significant election loss in October due to voter anger over his party's financial scandals.
“I hope to hold talks with President-elect Trump as early as possible so that we can elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance to even higher levels,” Ishiba told a news conference Tuesday marking the end of this year's parliamentary session.
“In order to further elevate the Japan-U.S. alliance ... it is important to share a common view about the situation in Northeast Asia,” Ishiba said.
Ishiba earlier had sought to have a meeting with Trump soon after his victory in the U.S. presidential race in November. However, the prime minister said he was told that meetings with world leaders before Trump's Jan. 20 inauguration were restricted under U.S. law.
Still, when Trump met last week with Akie Abe, the widow of late Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for a dinner, he conveyed a willingness to meet the Japanese leader around mid-January, Ishiba said. Abe had close ties with the president-elect.
No specific details have been set, but officials are working on it as Trump hopes to find “an appropriate timing,” according to Ishiba.
At home, the prime minister faces tough negotiations with the opposition — a major change for his Liberal Democratic Party's ruling coalition that has long forced through its favored legislation by taking advantage of its dominance in parliament, a practice set by Abe and which critics labeled autocratic.
Ishiba on Tuesday said he did his utmost to listen to opposition voices and form as broad consensus as possible on political reform legislation and supplementary budget plan.
Ishiba also promised to accelerate discussion on the possibility of allowing married couples an option to keep both of their surnames by changing the current law requiring one surname per household.
The rule has forced the majority of women to adopt their husbands' surnames, triggering criticism in Japan and abroad for being gender-biased.
Most opposition lawmakers and even a powerful business organization now support the surname policy change, which has been blocked for decades by LDP conservatives.
© Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
63 Comments
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TaiwanIsNotChina
He is right, and so is preparing Japan adequately for self defense.
dagon
That elevation of ties between the LDP of Ishiba et al and the incoming Supreme authoritarian oligarch of the US is the highest priority shows the sad state of affairs in both our countries.
Then Trump goes on to meet many other world leaders in the past weeks.
Number 50,135 of his lies?
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/trump-lies-false-presidency-b1790285.html
dbsaiya
Ishiba is desperately trying to make his mark on the diplomatic stage to prove his relevance. He was snubbed by trump who said that he won't be meeting with foreign leaders before the inauguration only to meet with Canada's Trudeau, Milei of Argentina, and even Akie! Now the problem is gong to be how much Ishiba gives up to appease a convicted criminal and con man.
sakurasuki
That alliance is not come free and cheap, with weak yen is getting increase from year to year.
Wick's pencil
Stronger alliance with US will help destabilize region and increase chances of war, as it did with Ukraine.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Then the problem is the ah countries that physically start such wars.
dobre vam zajebava
let me ask honest question-could he say ANYTHING ELSE?
happyhere
Time for a Japanese leader to look at a map and realize Japan's future lies in booming and peaceful Asia.
Wasabi
do not trust the USA, maybe the next states, after Panama, Canada, Mexico, Geenland... trump want to buy/invade will be Japan.
Wasabi
Are you working for putin?
Mr Kipling
He reaffirmed Japan as a loyal vassal to the US. Did anyone expect anything different?
GuruMick
Please advise how many invasions China has done since whenever.
Compare this figure to the US and NATO .
Then look at risk based on past behaviour.
Wick's pencil
Yes, the problem is the US and its "allies" (AKA vassals).
funkymofo
Current behavior is probably more relevant.
starpunk
He's right and we all know it.
Now that the USA is once again hijacked by that Quisling Donald, Japan can't depend on America for anything. Diaper-Stinker is going to kissy kissy up to Kimmy again, and his daughter-wife might try to establish her fashion line in Chinese factories again (don't believe that "tariff" jive, it's just sassy trash talking).
Denmark has already told the Spankee Boy that Greenland is theirs and theirs alone. Off limits. As for the other nations he's blabbed about he needs to keep in mind the title of a certain Rolling Stones song he's kept on using at his sieg heil rallies despite getting sued. He's blubbered about invading Venezuela and in 2020 some filibusters (with his subtle support) tried to do that, but their plan was foiled.
trump is an ally to nobody, he's an antichrist. Try to celebrate the birth of the REAL Messiah this week instead.
Fos
happyhere
The increasing geopolitical tensions incited by Washington, outline an unfortunate fact that US diplomacy has been deeply kidnapped by the military-industrial complex. It is no surprise that American politicians' constant hype of the "Russian menace" and the "China threat" is prompting the sales of weapons to win the support of national arms dealers in elections.
A reminder that the top 5 arms manufacturers in the world are all American, controlled by the main hedge funds (Blackrock, Vanguard, Fidelity):
Lockheed Martin, Raytheon Technologies, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, General Dynamics.
Wall Street, with the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have risen to new records, hence = more wars for America = more money for the US lobbies and more commissions for the "usual suspects"
TaiwanIsNotChina
Doesn't really matter when they are planning the Big One against Taiwan.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The US did not physically start the war in Ukraine. Didn't even provoke it but that is a separate issue.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Putin's invasion and China's belligerence are real things.
And the next 5 are Chinese.
Still 1% of gdp.
WoodyLee
Absolutely 100%
WoodyLee
Peace Through Strength has been preserving Peace for thousands of years. Pres. Ronald Reagan reiterated it during his leadership when he revived the B1-B program.
GuruMick
Posters avoiding my question.
And Taiwan , you have insider access to Chinas military planning ?
Could be useful.
Taiwan and China will reunite. Inevitable outcome.
Where is the US in terms of distance from Taiwan BTW.?
Is the US public supportive of ANOTHER WAR in a far away land ?
TaiwanIsNotChina
The world's largest navy and air force was not created for show. Nor are the petulant exercises set off every second around Taiwan.
Nothing inevitable about it.
3000 km but no problem when we have tanker air craft.
Hopefully. Xi needs to know it will end badly if he touches that hot coal.
GuruMick
Still no answer to my original post.
Yes, past behaviour is the predominant indicator of future behaviour.
No one asking what Taiwan people want so far in this discussion.
Wasabi
Tibet
Fos
GuruMick
China has not been engaged in military activity for the past forty years. In that time, the US has overthrown numerous governments and illegally invaded many countries. China does not have a history of military aggression beyond the defense of its own borders. Its current defence spending has risen steadily in recent years, but is one third of the budget allocation for defence which the Biden Administration submitted to Congress earlier this year.
Key conflicts of United States of America include:
Gulf War (1990-1991) - A coalition operation to liberate Kuwait from Iraqi occupation.
War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) - Initiated in response to the September 11 attacks.
Iraq War (2003-2011) - Aimed at toppling Saddam Hussein's regime, with a prolonged occupation afterward. Based on lies
Interventions in Libya (2011) - Involved airstrikes during the civil unrest.
Ongoing operations against ISIS (2014-present) - Involves military action in Iraq, Syria, Yemen.
starpunk
The USN and USMC are all over the world. Distance from the US is irrelevant.
We're having one right now against the Houthi hooligans in the Red Sea, fighting to keep international commerce going free from piracy. Not as 'glamorous' as previous wars but the armchair generals will get their kicks anyway.
And too many Americans believe the US is actually being 'invaded' by Latinos in Mexico, an Orwellian lie insulting to all military veterans of the past 80 years or so, incl. myself.
Richard Gallagher
Negative. It ensures instability. It is militarist and antagonistic. Japan remains a client-state of the USA, tending toward an outright vassal. It is a waste of taxpayer money and does naught to enhance the security of Japan, in fact, the military occupiers of Japan, in its 80th year, present a clear and present danger to Japan. The US troops and navy should be kicked-out of Japan and Article Nine fully embraced. All these slavish sycophants to US power with an outlandish obesiance are beholden to a queer notion of an imperial Japan. The aged and antiquated politicians with their obsolete ideologies need to vanish from the stage. They are not fit to rule and belong to an elite that does not represent 'the people' nor act in the interests of the citizenry.
Richard Gallagher
Taiwan. The former offshore shoe factory, now headquarters for sweatshops on the mainland. As if, China and its manufacture partners such as Apple and literally a thousand other US companies envision the US going to war over Taiwan based on the fevered illusions & hallucinations of right-wing politicians and warmongers. Let alone guided by the whims of an uninformed and ignorant electorate.
OssanAmerica
U.S. allies are not "vassals". U.S. allies are tied to US security agreements which can be modified or terminated by either side. U.S. forces in other countries is by invitation of the host countries.
This is a far cry from the "vassal" states of the ancient Chinese dynasties who had to send tributary gifts (and virgins) to China.
The continuous use of the term "vassal" by the wumao crowd exposes their chip on the shoulder that China, unlike the US and democratic nations, has no real allies.
Some dude
A fairly obvious statement to make, but hardly wrong. Even with a walking disaster at the helm, the US is the most powerful country in the word at the present time, and it makes sense to keep them sweet.
Just depends now how transactional Trump is feeling when they meet.
"We'll keep an eye on belligerence from China et. al, but in return I want X, Y and Z".
TaiwanIsNotChina
So we should assume the PRC will attack the UN again?
Because it is quite clear:
https://esc.nccu.edu.tw/upload/44/doc/6961/People202406.jpg
Raw Beer
Indeed, there is popular saying:
"To be an enemy of America can be dangerous, but to be a friend is fatal"
TaiwanIsNotChina
A carefully selected date. Despite that, China has been engaged in clashes with India and assaulting Filipino ships. Just because they are preparing for the Big One doesn't mean we should assume this is a peaceful country.
Only Yugoslavia and Iraq were illegal in that timeperiod.
But what it claims as its borders can be quite contrary to international law and its neighbors.
No one can know what China truly spends.
Good for the US but not of consequence when discussing China's belligerence or plans to take Taiwan.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Japan is under no obligation to be subservient to your heroes in Peking.
The PRC is clearly responsible for said sweatshops. So much for communism.
They don't envision WW3 because they assume Xi is smarter than that. Let's hope they are right.
Offwithyourarrogance
Poor Ishiba..Nobody wants to talk to him??
OssanAmerica
PM Ishiba is absolutely correct. Japan being allied with the United States, and by extension all the other US allies, is what keeps autocratic aggression at bay and therefore maintains peace and stability in the region.
Tamarama
Taiwan is probably China
Of course it matters, you just can't argue against the logic. The US is intimating and implying the China are a threat, which is deliciously ironic, given their record of undertaking exactly zero military invasions against the US's long list of recent hegemonic incursions. Pot, kettle, black.
If China do decide to reclaim Taiwan, that's going to put the US in a real bind. A real bind. This will be the ultimate rubber-meets-the-road Litmus test of their resolve in Taiwan. How committed are they really to Taiwan's independence? Are they really going to attempt to go to war with the country that owns $750 billion of their debt and is currently their 3rd biggest trade partner? Are they really going to go to war over an island that is historically Chinese territory, and that you can see with the naked eye from the beach in China?
I don't think they will.
They might offer support in the same way they have done to Ukraine, but they will avoid more direct confrontations and will be sat back on their heels a little once China re-takes Taiwan.
The_Beagle
Japan has been joined at the hip with the US since 1945. Since then, Taiwan became the refuge of the government of the Republic of China, the Korean Conflict broke out, the Vietnam War happened, the Killing Fields of Cambodia became known, all manner of trouble in Myanmar. Not to mention China messing with Mongolia. Who calls that stability?
itsonlyrocknroll
The government of China has spent the people of China inheritance, their children future, many trillions of dollars, creating, fortifying artificial shoals/islands for the sole purposed to impose milltary control over trade shipping routes.
Taiwan will be forcefully taken, its people enslaved.
Both the East and South China seas blockaded.
Occupation and Island Building
Five claimants occupy nearly 70 disputed reefs and islets spread across the South China Sea. They have built more than 90 outposts on these contested features, many of which have seen expansion in recent years.
AMTI has gathered satellite imagery of each outpost, along with other relevant information, to document their current status and any changes they have undergone in recent years. Explore the database below.
https://amti.csis.org/island-tracker/
Judge for yourselves, the evidence in unequivocal, compelling.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, the people of Japan, need concrete guarantees from president elect Donald Trump, not “deals”.
The people of Japan must consider a deterrent, off shore, next generation hypersonic missile capability,
A full public debate must begin, the people must decide, be presented with the threat despot dictator Xi Jinping President of the People's Republic of China represents.
Would Donald Trump go to war if Taiwan, Japan was to come under the goose stepping jack boot of Xi Jinping thuggery?
A pertinent question!
TaiwanIsNotChina
Ishiba is intimating and implying that China is a threat, which based on the ramming of Filipino boats, the visits to the Senkakus, and the continual exercises around Taiwan, is pretty well supported by evidence.
Historically Chinese territory means nothing. You are right that the US will have a tough decision and that is why we need a capable president making the call to remove the Chinese.
Biden said many times he will defend Taiwan. There will be other patriots in the future.
An assumption to be weighed against all of the assets at the US disposal. Xi clearly feels he can't call the US's bluff.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Not sounding too confident there, either.
Peter Neil
who is going to attack japan and why?
japan imports $168 billion from china and exports $126 billion to china.
Raw Beer
They are joined, but not at the hip. More like how Jim Henson was joined with Kermit...
Peter14
For decades the US has been the glue holding a generally peaceful world together as a counter weight to those with ambitions to conquer and expand. There are a number of nations who hold to the ideal that once you defeat a nation, or capture territory, it is theirs to own and rule forever more.
Coalitions of democracies have been the bedrock of trade, stability, personal freedoms and a rule of law that is separate from government with the independence to ensure laws are enforced equally as much as possible. Money and power will always provide an edge but is still no guarantee of winning.
The alliance of Japan and the US has helped maintain order and law in the region when all the while there are nations wanting to conquer others, be it North Korea wanting to rule South Korea, or China wanting to rule Taiwan, or the many border disputes in the region that could break into conflict in a world without the stability of America and other like minded nations.
Having said that, America is about to fall under the control of an autocrat with eyes on the territory of others, from the Panama canal, to Greenland and even Canada, (might be a joke, might not be). The stability Ishiba is looking for may not be possible during the next four years, no matter what Japan does. The best thing for Japan is to keep working every angle from closer ties with South Korea, Australia and others in the region plus with Europe and others beyond the Asia Pacific region. Look to formalizing alliances with nations other than the US, as a backup. Altering article 9 would be needed to achieve such a result.
The US, normally the center of stability will become the center of chaos under Trump as he turns the US political swamp into Trumps "tar pit", where once you are rooted in the tar pit, you can never escape.
Tamarama
That's just a little argy bargy, calm down.
Says you only, and you don't make any important decisions in this scenario. The people that do, see it differently.
Biden also introduced Volodymyr Zelenskiy as Vladimir Putin.
On the 1st of October, he said this: “Taiwan is China’s sacred territory. Blood is thicker than water, and people on both sides of the strait are connected by blood, (We must) resolutely oppose ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities,” Xi said.
Who's calling who's bluff?
starpunk
An easy answer. trump would just kiss Xi's fanny, just like he does all dictators. He is one himself. He'd probably negotiate with Xi to get a trump tower in Beijing or Nanking as well. Why not? He's the 'Chosen One' and he wants to rule the world, even though he is on the leashes of Putin and the Muskrat.
itsonlyrocknroll
starpunk,
Donald Trump presidency, an historic split second term is likely to be punctuated with the next generation pushing him towards the exit.
Trump vice president James David Vance, I suggest, is his, or will become his nemesis. you can almost taste the stench of Vance ambition.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba must not be to eager to take Trump at his word.
Trump is unpredictable, which can catch his detractors off guard.
Trump provokes reaction. Then manipulates an outcome to his own advantage..
yakyak
Japan is a giant aircraft carrier for the United States.
isabelle
You must've missed the part where Putin invaded Ukraine in an unprovoked, unilateral, illegal war of conquest and vanity.
Honest answer: yes, he could. But he didn't.
Only peaceful as long as China/North Korea/Russia don't start anything. Hence, the alliances among Japan, US, Philippines, Australia, South Korea, and others.
Except he didn't. You just made that up.
isabelle
If you're talking PRC, which I believe you are...
Ongoing: Northern India, South China Sea.
Past: Tibet, Vietnam, Korea.
Or current behavior (Northern India, South China Sea), or stated policy -- such as the annexation of Taiwan. This gives a far more useful assessment of risk.
You post this every time, and every time I remind you that China is engaged in military activity right now in India and the South China Sea.
Do you not understand this information? Or are you just posting the same nonsense regardless?
TaiwanIsNotChina
Just the facts, ma'am.
The lives of 24 million Taiwanese who don't want to be enslaved are more important than some fake notion of sacred Chinese territory.
Means nothing. You got the real deal with his repeated statement on Taiwan. Any patriot would say so as you yourself said doing nothing would throw the US out of the region (probably to your liking).
Biden is calling Xi's bluff. Talk is cheap. Actions matter and the PLN remains safely away from Taiwan.
iron man
If I may comment P14,
For years the u.s. HAS BEEN THE GLUE holding the world together. I saw interesting stats yrs ago regarding the % of us population dependent upon the war 'machine' for their livelihood. The article is about JPN defense. US people have spoken (nah comment). Why not just let JPN citizens have a consultation or referendum? their country, their land.
TaiwanIsNotChina
The LDP is welcome to do that, but with a 70% favorability rating for the US in Japan, what do you think the odds are of the US being thrown out?
Raw Beer
It was provoked, very much so. In the same way. The US will get Japan to provoke China, and suffer the same fate as Ukraine.
Fos
Peter14
That is the most hilarious thing that we heard on this forum. Where have you been all this time?
I’ve stopped reading at the first line….
The United States is by any measure the most aggressive and violent country in the world and will not accept a multi-polar world where countries large and small can live in peace together.
In the course of the 20th century alone, Washington has participated in 39 armed conflicts, or one every three years, and since 2000 it has engaged in at least 12 wars, the equivalent of one every two years.
China is determined that it must have the military capability to defend its homeland. However, it does not project its military power around the globe as does the US.
Given the US spends more on defence than the next ten countries combined, and has surrounded China with dozens of hostile military bases, no-one should be surprised that Beijing has responded to a growing sovereign threat.
Fos
isabelle
I’ve read that US military dispatch too, and decided we should stick to historical facts not hearsay, or even worse, propaganda. The same type of the one employed by the United States of America throughout the last century.
History facts:
Since 1945 the US past administrations have tried to overthrow more than 50 governments, many of them democratically elected; grossly interfered in elections in 30 countries; bombed the civilian populations of 30 countries; used chemical and biological weapons; and attempted to assassinate foreign leaders.
Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (who represent the great powers), only one has not fought a war in 40 years: China.
The only military risk that we face from Beijing is if we continue as a proxy for the US in its endless war
The problem is the US refuses to change and accept the fact that it’s no longer the sole hegemon.
Fos
CPowell
History repeating itself.
US Department employing local crews and (of course) the usual suspects, running stories of alleged Filipinos fishermen being harassed by Chinese boats. A good reason for justify selling billions of dollars of weapons Made in Usa to Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, and driving the Wall Street records.
As a reminder, in 1964 in Vietnam the US lied about the Gulf of Tonkin incident to drag the nation into a needless conflict. History facts on deception and lies of previous US administrations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Tonkin_incident
Michael Machida
Paul Smith ties are good.
TaiwanIsNotChina
That's because you never cracked the books on russian and Chinese history.
All legal with the exception of Iraq. It's not easy removing terrorists and communists, but someone has to do it.
It doesn't need to yet. The plan is to enslave the 24 million people on Taiwan first.
They are welcome to respond all they want in a legal manner, which is not what they are doing in the SCS.
The videos, damaged ships, and assaulted coastguardsmen are not hearsay. We can repeat it as often as necessary.
Fighting an ideology is not easy, but thankfully we did it successfully.
Yeah because China is biding its time and uses russia to cause chaos.
Hiding is not a strategy for success with a bully.
China is the only comparable power. I would say we are waking up to the peaceful rise not being so peaceful and planning accordingly.
Nothing alleged about videos, damaged ships, and assaulted coastguardsmen.
Must be bedtime as the favorite bedtime story makes an appearance. Does someone read it to you?
isabelle
CCP lies in the very first line. Just what we've all come to expect.
Now, that is true to a certain extent. The ROC (Taiwan) is indeed the motherland of mainland China:
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/10/07/asia/taiwan-china-motherland-history-hnk-intl/index.html
A little late to the party, Emperor Xi. Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country, as confirmed many times by its government.
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/08/16/2003804803
isabelle
Great. And if you check other sources (that are not controlled by the CCP, Kremlin, or North Korea), you'll find that the information is corroborated.
Excellent idea. So, please stop posting CCP/Kremlin lies.
Fos
CPowell
Like we said before,, the US government is the biggest arms dealer on Earth, those are facts, unlike the Filipinos skirmishes or the Tibetan monks tales, and the weapons sales serve Washington military hegemony.
The current record of Wall Street, Nasdaq Composite and S&P 500 reveals the true nature of these wars. Anybody can check the shares of Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman, Boeing, all American arms companies forecast to rise amid growing global instability.