Kishida Encouraged Self-doubted Americans

Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, delivered a speech at the United States Congress on April 11th, stressing that Japan would stand together with US as global partners each other. Presenting his achievement in security policies, Kishida spoke out his hope to build security frameworks in Indo-Pacific region. It is not clear, however, how many citizens in Japan would support what their top leader with historically low popularity said in the Capitol Hill.

It was the first opportunity for a prime minister of Japan to address in the US Congress in these nine years. Former Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, made a speech titled “Toward an Alliance of Hope.” Praising Japan-US alliance as friendship between the enemies in the past, Abe supported “rebalancing” of US for enhancing regional peace and security in Asia-Pacific. “We must make the vast seas stretching from the Pacific to the Indian Oceans seas of peace and freedom, where all follow the rule of law,” said Abe nine years ago.

 

Basically following the framework of Abe’s speech, Kishida showed a more practical approach. Referring to the achievements of his administration, including transformation of the National Security Policy, a substantial increase of defense budget by FY 2027 to 2% of GDP and possessing counterstrike capabilities, Kishida described extended security frameworks including Republic of Korea, Australia, India, Philippines, G7 and ASEAN.

 

Having said that, Kishida urged US to play its role in the security of Asia-Pacific region, saying “Ukraine of today may be East Asia of tomorrow.” Possibly noticing introverted tendency in US, as seen in broad domestic support for America-first Trumpism or reluctance to funding the support for Ukraine, Kishida did not hide his concern. “I detect an undercurrent of self-doubt among some Americans about what your role in the world should be,” said Kishida.

 

Kishida looked to be emphasizing the progress of Japan-US alliance in his leadership. “We first became a regional partner of the United States, and now we have become your global partner. Never has our leadership been so close, our vision and approach so united,” said Kishida to US lawmakers. Some decades ago, Japan-US alliance was discussed in the context of cooperation in the region of Far East with restraint of the Constitution of Japan. Kishida seemed to point out that he had overcome that restraint.

 

However, Kishida’s achievement has not tested by a general election of the Diet. It is unclear how much his security policies have achieved public endorsement. A recent poll exercised by Jiji Press after the disciplinary decision of Liberal Democratic Party on the slush fund scandal, the approval rate for Kishida Cabinet marked record low of 16.6%. Kishida administration is in a greater jeopardy than the security situation in Asia-Pacific region.

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