TL/DR –
President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced a series of agreements to bolster their nations’ military, economic, and space exploration cooperation during Kishida’s visit to the White House. The military cooperation included plans for better coordination, potential production of advanced missiles, and possible inclusion of Japan in the Aukus partnership for advanced nuclear submarines. In terms of economic cooperation, several major deals were announced, including Microsoft’s $2.9 billion investment in artificial intelligence in Japan, Google’s $1 billion investment in digital infrastructure, and Toyota’s $8 billion investment in electric car battery production in North Carolina.
US and Japan Strengthen Ties Amid Growing Chinese Aggression
President Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed military and economic solidarity on Wednesday, confronting an increasingly aggressive China.
The White House visit resulted in numerous new agreements between the leaders. Here are the key announcements:
Military Collaboration
- The US and Japan unveiled plans to enhance military command and control for improved coordination.
- Both nations intend to collaborate on the production of military equipment, including advanced missiles.
- The Biden administration seeks congressional approval to use Japanese companies for U.S. naval ship repairs.
- The US, Britain, and Australia are contemplating cooperating with Japan in the Aukus submarine construction partnership.
Space Exploration
- Two Japanese astronauts will join future American Artemis moon missions.
- Japan will join the NASA Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan and contribute to the next-generation Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope.
Economic Cooperation
- Several significant economic deals include a $2.9 billion investment by Microsoft in Japan’s AI sector; a $1 billion Google investment in digital communications infrastructure; and a nearly $8 billion investment by Toyota in electric car battery production in Greensboro, N.C.
- A $110 million AI joint venture involving the University of Washington, University of Tsukuba, Carnegie Mellon University, and Keio University, funded by Nvidia, Arm, Amazon, Microsoft, and several Japanese companies.
- The creation of the Japan Innovation Campus and the Global Startup Campus in Tokyo, aimed at accelerating innovation.
Climate Cooperation
- The nations pledged to collaborate more closely on reducing climate change and transitioning to clean energy.
- A commitment to modernizing power grids and sharing best practices.
- The US lauded Japan’s decision to restart nuclear reactors to meet its 2030 decarbonization goals.
Strengthening People-to-People Ties
- The establishment of a Mineta Ambassadors Program named after Norman Y. Mineta, the first Japanese American cabinet member, involving U.S. and Japanese students.
- Japan will join the U.S. Global Entry program, facilitating quicker clearance for preapproved travelers from foreign airports into the US.
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