Kishida, Biden to Discuss Joint Defense Gear Production

Tokyo, April 4 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to agree on the creation of a consultative body to promote defense industry cooperation at a summit next week, Japanese government officials said Thursday.

The two countries aim to strengthen joint development and production of defense equipment as part of efforts to deter Russia and China.

The establishment of the consultative body will be included in a joint statement to be issued after the summit in Washington on Wednesday.

The foreign and defense ministers of Japan and the United States will discuss details when they meet in Tokyo possibly in late May.

The United States needs to expand production of defense equipment to continue providing military support to Ukraine in its war with Russia.

In December, Japan agreed to provide the United States with Patriot surface-to-air guided missiles to help replenish its depleting stockpiles as part of a decision to ease its restrictions on defense equipment exports.

Japan and the United States will set up the consultative body to discuss ways to beef up such collaboration.

"It's very important to strengthen Japan-U.S. cooperation in the joint development of defense equipment," Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi told a press conference.

"We will promote security cooperation and steadily improve the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance," he added.

Kishida will leave Japan on Monday afternoon for the United States and hold a summit with Biden at the White House on Wednesday. The summit will be joined by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and industry minister Ken Saito.

Kishida will deliver a speech at the U.S. Congress on April 11. He will later hold the first-ever trilateral summit with Biden and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
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