Biden’s trip to East Asia; Japan is increasing its military budget.
Japanese sources say the prime minister plans to announce an increase in Japan’s military budget during a meeting with the US president in Tokyo.
US President Joe Biden kicks off a five-day tour of East Asia on Friday, visiting a Samsung parts plant as the first destination of his trip to South Korea.
According to USA Today, analysts have called Biden a move to strengthen ties and cooperation between Washington and Seoul on technology and other technologies.
During a visit to the United States last year, former South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced the two sides’ investment in electronic semiconductor components and batteries for electric vehicles. It aims to produce key products in this field and reduce dependence on China.
According to the report, the US President will meet with the new President of South Korea, Eun Suk-yeol, at the factory.
The new president of South Korea recently stressed the need to strengthen relations between Seoul and Washington.
After South Korea, Joe Biden will travel to Japan and meet with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Tokyo.
Asahi TV reported on Friday, referring to Biden’s visit to Tokyo, that the Japanese Prime Minister is expected to announce an increase in the military budget during his meeting with the US President next week.
Biden’s visit to Japan comes as hundreds of protesters’s military presence on the island of Okinawa in Japan last week called for a reduction in the country’s military presence in Okinawa.
In response, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was taking Okinawa’s concerns seriously and would work to reduce the burden of its military presence while maintaining US military deterrence on the islands.
