By Takuya Karube,
The top diplomats of Japan and the United States agreed Friday that the two countries will cooperate closely in dealing with issues relating to China and on the importance of peace and stability around Taiwan.
Following a meeting in Washington, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa also told reporters that she agreed with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to work toward the "success" of a state visit later this year to the U.S. capital by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
Kamikawa, however, stopped short of indicating when the visit, which she said is aimed at furthering Japan's partnership with the United States in "all areas," may take place, pointing out a schedule is still being fleshed out.
Sources close to bilateral relations said in late December the visit could take place in early March.
Kamikawa's meeting with Blinken was held just a day before Taiwan's presidential election, which could have serious implications for the self-governing island's relations with China, other Asian countries and the United States.
While confirming more steps will be taken to enhance the alliance's deterrence and response capabilities, Kamikawa said both sides "underscored the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and urged a peaceful resolution of cross-strait issues."
Taiwan is an "extremely important partner" for Japan for reasons such as sharing the same values and principles of "freedom, democracy, basic human rights and the rule of law," she added.
China, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province, does not hide its ambition to unify it with the mainland, by force if necessary.
Since Taiwan's current leader Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party assumed office in 2016, China has been ratcheting up military and economic pressure on the island, which has a population of more than 23 million.
Many countries are focused on how China will react if the ruling party, which rejects Beijing's aspirations for unification, wins a third term.
Blinken said the alliance with Japan is "truly the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," reaching "new heights" in recent years "where we're working together not only on a bilateral basis or a regional basis but on a genuine global basis."
As they began talks, he noted the longtime partnership is built on "shared values," adding, "We're together in good times and in challenging times."
It was the first time Kamikawa held talks in Washington with Blinken since assuming her post in September. He had just returned from a weeklong tour of the Middle East, his fourth to the region since the Palestinian militant group Hamas carried out the Oct. 7 attack on Israel that led to its ongoing assault in the Gaza Strip.
Kamikawa arrived in Washington late Thursday after visiting Ukraine and other European countries including Finland, Poland and the Netherlands.
On the heels of these visits, the two top diplomats reaffirmed that Japan and the United States will continue tough sanctions against Russia, strong support for Ukraine, and diplomatic efforts to prevent the Middle East conflict from expanding beyond Israel and Gaza.
She also said they discussed the situation in the Red Sea after U.S. and British forces on Thursday conducted strikes against more than 60 targets in Yemen used by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, in response to a series of recent attacks on vessels transiting one of the world's most vital waterways.
Before sitting down with Blinken, Kamikawa held talks with other U.S. officials on Friday, meeting separately with National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.
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