Editorial: Kishida-Biden summit shows Japan's diplomatic strategy in doubt

The free and open international order is wavering, and we wonder what role Japan and the United States can play in its restoration. The state of the two countries' alliance is being put to the test.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held discussions with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington. This marks the first state visit to the U.S. for a Japanese prime minister in nine years since Shinzo Abe's visit in 2015.

A bleak world spreads out before us. Tensions are high over the actions of two permanent U.N. Security Council member states, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine and China's overbearing maneuvers in the East China and South China seas. Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian Territories' Gaza Strip grows ever more serious.

In response to this state of international affairs, Tokyo and Washington are seeking a "global partnership" for cooperation on issues on a worldwide scale, extending to the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.

Greater defensive coordination through improved command and control between Japan's Self-Defense Forces (SDF) and the U.S. military is one aspect. This will include the upgrading of command functions of the U.S. military in Japan in line with the establishment of a new joint operations command centrally responsible for SDF unit operations, with a view to improving coordination during emergencies.

What stood out was their counteractive stance toward China. AUKUS, the security partnership between the U.S., the U.K. and Australia, is considering cooperating with Japan on advanced technologies, hinting at the U.S. intent to draw Japan in.

The countries also outlined further cooperation in the economy, including strengthening the semiconductor supply chain and joint development of AI-based and other technologies. Their goal is to lessen the risk of reliance on China for essential materials.

As the security environment in East Asia becomes more precarious, the U.S.-Japan alliance's power of deterrence becomes all the more important. However, it is feared that Japan could fall in line with U.S. global strategy without autonomy.

Japan has been speeding up defensive reinforcements. Security legislation was passed to allow the country to exercise the right of collective self-defense. It's also been decided to grant the SDF counterstrike capabilities that would allow it to attack enemy bases. But focusing solely on deterrence when dialogue with neighboring countries remains insufficient risks raising tensions.

Japan needs its own diplomatic strategy. The circumstances of Japan's relationship with China differ from those of the U.S. China is, to the U.S., its largest rival in both the economic and security spheres. As Japan has strong economic ties with China, it needs a way to stabilize its relationship with Beijing.

At a news conference, the prime minister said that both Japan and China will work to build a "constructive and stable" bilateral relationship, but it will take time to realize the "strategic, mutually beneficial" relationship agreed upon with the world's second-largest economy. There's no lack of issues yet to be resolved, such as territorial incursions by Chinese ships around Okinawa Prefecture's Senkaku Islands and differing stances over the release of treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power facility.

Ahead of the meeting, Biden held a conference by phone with China's Xi Jinping. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also reached an agreement on a framework for a new economic dialogue on a visit to China, and the two sides are keeping the lines of communication open. But Japan has no such strategy in place.

As the United States' global influence shows signs of waning, Japan has a growing need to build a multifaceted diplomatic strategy. Fostering ties with the emerging and developing countries of the so-called Global South including India, the ASEAN nations and others is indispensable. It's also essential to make the most of the tripartite framework between Japan, China and South Korea to stabilize the situation in East Asia.

If Donald Trump is reelected in this year's U.S. presidential race, the country may fall back to "America First" priorities.

At the discussions, Japan and the U.S. confirmed their commitment to align their respective decarbonization strategies and jointly pursue investment. They will also work to establish common rules on financial aid to domestic businesses. These are aimed at drawing out the U.S. from its inward-leaning tendencies.

Addressing Congress, Kishida touched upon how the U.S. has "almost singlehandedly" preserved the international order, and signaled Japan's commitment to help play a part as the U.S.'s closest "tomodachi," or friend.

The late Makoto Iokibe, the former president of the National Defense Academy of Japan who passed away in March, had argued that Japan should preserve the U.S.-Japan alliance while pursuing mutually beneficial relations with China after losing to both countries in wars in the 20th century.

In a world where strong countries are repeatedly acting out of self-interest, how can the international order based on rule of law be restored? What's needed of Japan right now is a solid diplomatic vision.