Biden eyes Japan visit from May 22 for talks with Kishida, "Quad"

TOKYO, April 12 Kyodo - U.S. President Joe Biden will visit Japan from May 22 for talks with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and a summit meeting of the "Quad" group that also involves Australia and India, diplomatic sources said Tuesday. The meeting between Kishida and Biden is being arranged for May 23 and the Quad summit the following day, as Biden makes his first visit to Japan since becoming president in January 2021, the sources added. The envisaged Quad meeting will be a test of unity among the four democracies in responding to the crisis in Ukraine. Their leaders have already agreed to meet in person in Tokyo in the first half of this year. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has raised concern about its ramification for the Indo-Pacific region as an assertive China is seeking to expand its sphere of influence. Among the Quad nations aiming for a free and open Indo-Pacific, India maintains close ties with Russia while major powers are ramping up sanctions against Moscow for its aggression. Biden has not had a chance to travel to Asia as president so far, with annual regional meetings going virtual amid the coronavirus pandemic. During a virtual meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, Biden said he is looking forward to seeing him in Japan "about the 24th of May." ==Kyodo