U.S. President Joe Biden’s effort to harness U.S. alliances in Asia to counter China will get a test run during his summit with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday — his first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since taking office.
China’s shadow will loom large over almost every topic during Suga’s visit, from human rights to Taiwan to supply chain resilience. The two leaders plan to issue statements on the situation in the Taiwan Strait — a move sure to draw China’s attention — as well as announce a $2 billion initiative on 5G technology, according to a U.S. official who briefed reporters on Thursday.
Yet how to strike a balance between deterring China while keeping Beijing, Japan’s largest trade partner, from lashing out will be a crucial issue as the two leaders seek to project a unified voice.