U.S. President Joe Biden is eager to strengthen ties with Japan under presumed next Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, a senior official in the U.S. administration said Wednesday, after the former foreign minister was elected as the new leader of Japan's ruling party.
"The United States places great importance on the U.S.-Japan alliance, which serves as the cornerstone of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and across the world," the official said. "President Biden looks forward to working with Japan's new prime minister to strengthen our cooperation in the years ahead."
The two countries have been deepening their ties as they seek to counter China's growing assertiveness in the region. Michael Green, senior vice president for Asia and Japan at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, said the Biden administration will likely reach out "quickly" to "develop a strong partnership" with the next Japanese prime minister amid intensifying U.S.-China competition.