Japan’s Kishida Calls for U.S. Involvement in East Asia

By David Brunnstrom
(Reuters) – Less than two months before a closely fought U.S. election, Japan’s outgoing prime minister, Fumio Kishida, reiterated a call for continued U.S. involvement and leadership in East Asia and beyond.

Kishida, who is not contesting a Japanese ruling party leadership election this week, spoke at a Bloomberg-hosted event in New York, emphasizing that the foundation of the international order is being challenged, notably by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

He asserted that he has made significant efforts during his tenure to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance and bolster Japan’s defense capabilities to uphold a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

“What kind of future do we intend to hand down to our children and grandchildren? It is not a world where freedom is restricted and the will of the people is suppressed,” he remarked.

“It should be a safe and peaceful society based on freedom and democracy, which the United States has played a leading role in building since the end of World War Two,” Kishida stated. “Today, East Asia and the rest of the world need U.S. involvement and leadership. This is also for the U.S.’s own national interest.”

Kishida is in the U.S. for the U.N. General Assembly and ahead of the November 5 presidential election, where Vice President Kamala Harris will face U.S. President Donald Trump, who has questioned the value of U.S. alliances and support for Ukraine.

Last Saturday, Kishida met with U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and India at the Quad forum to announce joint security measures in Asia’s trade-rich waters amid growing challenges from China.

Kishida’s remarks echoed a speech he delivered to the U.S. Congress in April, where he warned that without U.S. support, Ukraine might collapse under Russian aggression, potentially emboldening China and leading to a new crisis in East Asia.

He urged Americans not to doubt their country’s “indispensable” role in global affairs while mentioning that Tokyo is undertaking historic military upgrades to support its ally.

Later that day, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a trilateral meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and South Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yul in New York, highlighting the importance of trilateral cooperation in the face of upcoming political transitions in their countries.

Kishida, addressing an event with top U.S. asset managers, reiterated the need for investment in Japan, stating, “I would like to say even more strongly, like Captain Kirk in Star Trek: ‘Boldly invest in Japan, like no one has done before!'”