Kishida tells Biden that Japan stands by the US to counter Russian aggression

A senior official in the administration said that in a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida made it clear that Japan "would fully support" the United States against Russian aggression against Ukraine.

According to the official, the two leaders discussed the rising tensions generated by Russia's massing of tens of thousands of soldiers near its border with Ukraine.

The White House released a statement in which Kishida pledged to continue working closely with the United States, other allies and partners, and the international community in order to respond to any attack.

"We did not disclose any details about possible measures we would take in the event that these actions proceed," the official explained, adding that the two leaders would be in close consultation on the issue.

The two leaders vowed to “push back” against China’s attempts to alter the status quo in the South China Sea, where China has been ramping up military presence, and the East China Sea—particularly the disputed Senkaku Islands—the White House said in a statement.

22 Jan 2022