US, Japan, Australia To Launch Joint Air Defence Network To Counter China: Joe Biden

us, japan, australia to launch joint air defence network to counter china: joe biden

Following President Joe Biden’s Wednesday meeting with Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the POTUS announced in a joint press conference that the US, Japan and Australia will form a joint air defence network to counter the threat of China.

Fumio Kishida and his wife Yuku Kishida are in Washington for bilateral talks between the US and Japan. Before the meeting, the two state leaders, along with their wives – Jill Biden and Yuko Kishida – posed for a photograph for the press.

“I’m also pleased to announce that for the first time, Japan and the United States and Australia will create a networked system of air, missile, and defense architecture,” Biden said in the joint press conference. “We’re also looking forward to standing up a trilateral military exercise with Japan and the United Kingdom.”

“The alliance between Japan and the United States is a cornerstone of peace, security, prosperity, in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. Ours is truly a global partnership,” he added.

Prime Minister Kishida, on the other hand, said that the POTUS reassured him of its strong support for Japan’s determination to strengthen its defence forces.

“I explained that, based on our national security strategy, Japan is determined to strengthen our defense force through position of counterstrike capabilities, increase our defense budget and other initiatives, and was reassured by President Biden of his strong support for such efforts,” Prime Minister Kishida said.

According to reports, formation of the joint air defence network is part of the US military restructuring its command in Japan, which would effectively be the biggest boost the countries has seen in military relations since in the 1960s. It comes in the backdrop of US trying to counter China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.

On Thursday, Kishida is scheduled to deliver a speech to Congress and partake in a tripartite meeting with Mr. Biden and the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, which is anticipated to also center around discussions on China.