[ad_1]
WASHINGTON—Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in a speech to a joint session of Congress on Thursday, asserted that his country stands with the United States at this turning point in history.
Kishida said that decades ago, the United States had a certain reputation for “shaping the international order” and “defending freedom and democracy.”
“You believed that freedom was the oxygen of humanity,” he said. “The world needs the United States to continue to play this vital role in national affairs. But as we meet here today, some Americans are wondering what America’s role is in the world. I sense an undercurrent of self-doubt about whether I should do it.”
Kishida said the world is at a “turning point in history,” as “freedom and democracy are currently under threat around the world,” climate change is causing natural disasters, and technologies such as artificial intelligence are advancing. Said something like this is happening when.
The prime minister said, “Japan is facing its greatest strategic challenge yet” from China, and also talked about the threats from North Korea and Russia in Ukraine.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as America’s closest friends and friends, the Japanese people stand with you to ensure the survival of freedom.” “Not just for our people, but for all people.”
He added, “I’m here to say that Japan is already on par with the United States. You are not alone. We are with you.”
The prime minister said he feels a special connection to the United States after attending his first three years of elementary school in Queens.
“We arrived in the fall of 1963, and for several years our family lived like Americans,” he said. “My father took the subway to Manhattan, where he worked as a trade official. We cheered for the Mets and Yankees and ate hot dogs at Coney Island. On vacation, we went to Niagara Falls or here. I went to Washington DC.”
Kishida’s speech will be the second time a Japanese prime minister has officially addressed parliament. The first was Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s speech in 2015, and Kishida attended the speech as Foreign Minister. Prime Minister Abe was assassinated in 2022. The last foreign leader to address lawmakers was Israeli President Isaac Herzog in July 2023.
Thursday’s speech also marked the first joint meeting with a foreign leader since House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) took the gavel. Vice President Kamala Harris will also chair the floor during the speech.
Congressional leaders invited Kishida to speak in both houses of parliament in early March, which Johnson said in a statement was part of an effort to lay “the foundations for cooperation for years to come.”
Before his speech, Mr. Kishida spoke with Mr. Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (New York), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (New York) in a room just off the House floor. , met with the Senate Minority Leader and leaders of the Big Four Congresses. Mitch McConnell, Republican, Kentucky. They didn’t take any questions, but Mr. Johnson joked to Mr. Kishida that he had “brought a large group of reporters from Japan.”
“Japan is a close ally and critical to our national and economic security,” added Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.). “This visit will continue to deepen diplomatic and security ties between our two countries and further strengthen the strength of our decades-long cooperation.”
The trip is notable because Republicans, especially members of Congress, have resisted foreign aid to countries like Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan.Countering China was a major focus of Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to the United States.
Foreign Minister Kishida stated, “China’s current external posture and military actions present the greatest and unprecedented strategic challenge not only to Japan’s peace and security, but also to the peace and stability of the entire international community.” .
“Russia’s brutal, unprovoked and unwarranted war of aggression against Ukraine has entered its third year. As I have often said, today’s Ukraine could become tomorrow’s East Asia.”
Before the invitation to Kishida was extended, Republican and Democratic leaders on the House Foreign Affairs Committee urged Johnson in a letter to formally request the Japanese leader to speak to Congress. “We will demonstrate Congressional support for this important alliance and support our members.” Members of Congress understand its importance to America’s economic and strategic interests. ”
After the speech, Vice President and Secretary of State Antony Blinken will host a lunch with Kishida at the State Department.
In the late afternoon, Mr. Kishida will attend the first Japan-U.S.-Philippines Trilateral Summit to be held at the White House, where he will meet with President Joe Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., among others.
On Wednesday, Biden and Kishida announced plans to improve U.S. military command in Japan, which hosts about 54,000 U.S. military personnel. The two countries also plan to establish a military-industrial council to consider the types of weapons they can jointly produce.
The White House hosted a state dinner for Japan’s leaders later that night, with guests including former President Bill Clinton and first lady Hillary Clinton, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Apple CEO Tim. Cook was included.
[ad_2]
Source link
