WASHINGTON: Japanese Prime Minister KISHIDA Fumio and U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced a plan to establish a body to discuss the joint development, production and maintenance of defense equipment.

The plan to convene a Forum on Defense Industrial Cooperation, Acquisition and Sustainment, or DICAS, and discuss missile development and other issues was included in a joint statement released after the two leaders’ meeting at the White House.

The statement also mentioned a planned overhaul of the respective command and control systems of Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and U.S. forces stationed in Japan, to improve coordination.

In a separate document, Tokyo and Washington said the SDF and the U.S. military plan to conduct activities for deterrence to respond to provocative acts escalating in areas around Japan.

“We’re modernizing command and control structures, and we’re increasing the interoperability and planning of our militaries so they can work together in a seamless and effective way,” Biden said in a joint press conference with Kishida after the summit.

Kishida said, “Now is the time to demonstrate the true values that Japan and the United States can offer as global partners.”

The joint statement said that the two countries are “working together, across all domains and at all levels, to build a global partnership that is fit for purpose to address the complex, interconnected challenges of today and tomorrow for the benefit of our two countries and the world.”

The statement also said that the United States, Britain and Australia under their AUKUS security partnership are considering cooperating with Japan on advanced military technology development.

Japan and the United States agreed to set up a working group to explore opportunities for future fighter pilot training and the joint development and production of trainer jets, according to the statement.

The statement said the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries will hold “in-depth discussions” on U.S. extended deterrence, including the nuclear umbrella, at their next meeting.

Kishida and Biden shared a target of making a Japanese national the first non-U.S. astronaut to land on the moon in a future Artemis manned lunar exploration mission led by the United States. Washington plans to allocate two astronaut flight opportunities to the lunar surface for Japan on future Artemis missions, according to the statement.

The two leaders confirmed that their countries will cooperate on the research, development and design of semiconductors to strengthen global supply chains for such products, while welcoming 110-million-dollar financial assistance for artificial intelligence research projects involving Japanese and U.S. universities.

Regarding China, the statement said, “We emphasize that our basic positions on Taiwan remain unchanged and reiterate the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait as an indispensable element of global security and prosperity.”

Strongly opposing any unilateral attempt to change the status quo in the East and South China seas, Tokyo and Washington reiterated in the statement that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. security treaty, which stipulates U.S. obligations to defend Japan, applies to the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, southernmost Japan. The Japanese-administered islands are claimed by China, where they are known as Diaoyu.

At the summit, Biden reaffirmed the “U.S. commitment to the immediate resolution” of the issue of North Korea’s abductions of Japanese nationals.

Kishida told the press conference that his policy “is to aim for a summit meeting with North Korea to resolve various issues and will advise high-level consultation directly under my instruction. And that remains unchanged.”

Biden said that “we welcome the opportunity of our allies to initiate dialogue” with North Korea. “I think his seeking a dialogue with them is a good thing. It’s a positive thing.”

The two leaders pledged to continue sanctions against Russia and support for Ukraine, expressed concerns over strengthening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea and demanded a ceasefire of at least six weeks to improve the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip.

The statement announced the launch of the Mineta Ambassadors Program endowment for high school and university students to study abroad. The program is aimed at promoting human exchanges between Japan and the United States.

The two countries set out a plan to work with like-minded countries to step up efforts to tackle the spread of disinformation on social media.

JIJI Press