Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison agreed Tuesday to further strengthen the "Special Strategic Partnership" between the two countries and continue to work together to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Kishida said earlier Tuesday that he received "strong words of commitment" from US President Joe Biden on Washington's promise to defend the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea. China claims the Japan-administered uninhabited islets and calls them Diaoyu, one of several areas of concern among the United States and its allies over Beijing's growing assertiveness in regional waters. In separate calls with Biden and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Kishida affirmed cooperation on efforts to realize a "free and open Indo-Pacific" region, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. Kishida's call with Biden was his first with a foreign leader since taking office on Monday. During their 20-minute video teleconference meeting, Kishida and Morrison also vowed to deepen their cooperation in security and defense and economy areas, the ministry said in a press release. The two also confirmed that they will "further strengthen cooperation with allies and like-minded countries, including through the Japan-Australia-India-US, in order to contribute to the peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific, and cooperate on global issues including climate change," according to the ministry. "Both leaders also shared their strong opposition to any economic coercion and any unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in the East and South China Seas," it said. In the talks, Kishida welcomed the recent establishment of the Australia-UK-US trilateral partnership, known as AUKUS. In addition, the two sides agreed to continue to work together on the response to North Korea including the issue of Japanese abductions by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s. In the earlier call, Biden strongly committed "to the defense of Japan, including the application of Article 5 of the Japan-US security treaty to the Senkakus," Kishida told reporters after their roughly 20-minute conversation. Article 5 states Washington will defend territories under Tokyo's administration from armed attack. Beijing often sends coast guard ships near the Senkakus despite Tokyo's protests. Kishida, who was elected prime minister in an extraordinary parliamentary session on Monday to replace the unpopular Yoshihide Suga, also agreed with Biden to cooperate on global issues including COVID-19, climate change, and working toward a world without nuclear arms. A former foreign minister, Kishida said in a press conference on Monday that China is a valuable trade partner but Japan will "say what needs to be said" regarding what he called Beijing's shortcomings in upholding freedom, democracy and the rule of law. Biden affirmed Washington will support Tokyo in its efforts to secure the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea in the 1970s and 1980s, Kishida said, adding the two leaders agreed to meet in person as soon as possible. The White House said Biden "noted that he looks forward to strengthening the relationship in the years ahead given the critical role our countries play in advancing our common vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad." The Quad is a group of countries also including Australia and India that are stepping up cooperation to counter China's growing assertiveness. — Agencies
