US, Japan renew alliance to engender peace, security

The United States and Japan have renewed an alliance to engender peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and around the world.

This was disclosed in a statement issued from the White House on Friday April 16, 2021.

According to the statement, the two contries have come together to work together as free and democratic nations.

It maintains that the new era of friendship between the two contries will strengthen their democracies.

“Our historic partnership is essential to the safety and prosperity of both our peoples. Forged in the wake of strife, the alliance has become a bedrock to each of our nations,” the statement reads.

It adds, “The world has changed many times over; our ties have pulled tighter. Our democracies have flourished, our economies have thrived, and we have become leaders in innovation.

“Our cultural and people-to-people ties have grown ever-deeper, and together we have led in multilateral institutions, in expanding global commerce and investment, and in advancing peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”

In celebration of the long-standing and close bonds, President Biden and Prime Minister Suga recommit themselves to an indelible Alliance, to a rules-based approach to regional and global order founded on universal values and common principles, and to cooperation with all those who share in these objectives.

“The United States and Japan will remake these commitments for a new era.”

Biden said in the statement that the U.S.-Japan alliance is unwavering, and both countries are more prepared than ever to address regional challenges.

“Our alliance advances a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific based on our commitment to universal values and common principles, and the promotion of inclusive economic prosperity.

“We respect sovereignty and territorial integrity and are committed to peacefully resolving disputes and to opposing coercion. We promote shared norms in the maritime domain, including freedom of navigation and overflight, as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.”

Both leaders also exchanged views on the impact of China’s actions on peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world, and shared their concerns over Chinese activities that are inconsistent with the international rules-based order, including the use of economic and other forms of coercion.

“We will continue to work with each other based on universal values and common principles. We also recognize the importance of deterrence to maintain peace and stability in the region. We oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.

“We reiterated our objections to China’s unlawful maritime claims and activities in the South China Sea and reaffirmed our strong shared interest in a free and open South China Sea governed by international law, in which freedom of navigation and overflight are guaranteed, consistent with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea,” the statement adds.

They therefore reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearization of North Korea, urging North Korea to abide by its obligations under UN Security Council resolutions, and called for full implementation by the international community.

“Together, we will continue to work with allies and partners, including with Australia and India through the Quad, which has never been stronger, to build the free, open, accessible, diverse, and thriving Indo-Pacific we all seek.

“We support ASEAN’s unity and centrality in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. We also concurred that trilateral cooperation with the Republic of Korea is essential to our shared security and prosperity.

We firmly condemn violence committed by the Myanmar military and police against civilians, and commit to continue taking action to press for the immediate cessation of violence, the release of those who are detained, and a swift return to democracy,” concludes the statement.

The alliance also recognizes that shared security and prosperity require new forms of 21st century cooperation.

President Biden and Prime Minister Suga have therefore launched a new Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership.