The top foreign and economic officials of the United States and Japan on Friday vowed to work together to defend an open, rules-based international economic order and address the vulnerabilities in their supply chains for key technologies such as semiconductors during their first "two-plus-two" economic meeting.
The agreement underscored the growing awareness among the two close allies that enhancing economic security is vital for their overall security at a time when China is increasing not only its military might, but also its economic clout in the Indo-Pacific. The talks also came as Russia's war in Ukraine creates food and energy supply concerns.
Emphasizing their joint leadership in enhancing prosperity in the region and beyond, the two countries said in a statement that they will strive to make their economies "more competitive and resilient" and are "committed to countering threats to economic security and to the rules-based international economic order."