Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga is scheduled to meet President Joe Biden on April 9 at the White House. He will be the first foreign leader to meet President Biden in person since President Biden took office on January 20. The meeting will be a symbolic diplomatic gesture by the U.S. and Japan that the bilateral security alliance between the two countries in the Indo-Pacific region is one of the most, if not the most, important strategic relationship for both nations.

While there are many important international issues for Prime Minister Suga and President Biden to discuss, such as climate change, and COVID-19 and the economic recovery from it, China is the true backdrop of the U.S.-Japan summit meeting. While President Biden’s tactical approaches and personal styles are quite different from his predecessor, President Biden has assumed essentially the same tough stance vis-à-vis China. Central to President Biden’s tough position on China is that the U.S. and its allies are facing long-term ideological challenges from China. In other words, President Biden sees that China poses an ideologically existential threat to advanced industrialized democracies.

President Biden said in his signed introduction to the Interim National Security Strategy, which was released this month, “I believe we are in the midst of a historic and fundamental debate about the future direction of our world. There are those who argue that, given all the challenges we face, autocracy is the best way forward…. We must prove that our model isn’t a relic of history; it’s the single best way to realize the promise of our future.” As Mr. Matt Pottinger described in his speech at the Hoover Institution and a subsequent Op-Ed article in the Wall Street Journal this month, President Biden’s remark is a belated but clear “rejoinder” to an “almost mirror image” remark by President Xi Jinping of China made in the Communist Party Central Committee on January 5, 2013.

All reasonable people would agree that the U.S. and its allies cannot and should not make an enemy out of China and go to war with them. They also agree that the U.S. and its allies cannot and should not seek complete “decoupling” of their economies from China’s economy. However, both Prime Minister Suga and President Biden know the two nations must come up with a grand strategy to effectively deal with China working with QUAD countries, ASEAN, and the Pacific Island nations. The intention of the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision is well-meaning but actual implementation requires skillful and patient diplomacies. The summit meeting between President Biden and Prime Minister Suga is the first step into that direction under two new leaders of the free world. The joint statement, which is expected to be released following the summit meeting, will be carefully analyzed by nations in the Indo-Pacific and the international community.

The summit meeting is crucially important for Prime Minister Suga from the viewpoint of domestic politics. His footing with Japanese citizens has been improving slightly as the latest major polls indicate. Most of them show that the approval rate is now over 40%, which has surpassed the disapproval rate. He would like to continue to improve the trust the Japanese voters have in his leadership by continuing to battle COVID-19, ushering in economic recoveries, and conducting a successful summit meeting with President Biden.

It is said that during the summit meeting, Prime Minister Suga will be inviting President Biden to the Tokyo Olympic Games, which is scheduled to be held between July 23 and August 8. Prime Minister Suga’s party leadership will be up in September and he must win another term as Party President to extend his Prime Ministership. Successfully holding the Tokyo Olympic Games, under whatever that format may be, will certainly raise his popularity among voters in Japan.

On March 3, JUMP hosted an online event in partnership with Sasakawa USA and the Embassy of Japan in the United States commemorating ten years since Operation TOMODACHI, a joint effort between the U.S. and Japanese militaries to provide disaster relief in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. H.E. Koji Tomita, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the United States, provided opening remarks touching on the importance of friendship between the United States and Japan. MG Hiroyuki Sugai, Defense and Air Attaché at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., followed by reiterating the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance during this critical period. Next, Adm. Patrick M. Walsh, USN (Ret.) and Gen. Ryoichi Oriki, JGSDF (Ret.), the commanders of the U.S. and Japanese military divisions that led Operation TOMODACHI, reflected on the importance and legacy of mutual friendship built by this joint effort. Following these featured remarks, four military officers involved in Operation TOMODACHI—Lt Gen Burton M. Field, USAF (Ret.), VADM Scott Van Buskirk, USN (Ret.), Lt Gen Koichiro Bansho, JGSDF (Ret.), and Gen Gary North, USAF (Ret.)—provided their own perspectives on this critical mission and the U.S.-Japan alliance. A video of the event is available on the Sasakawa USA website.

Photo: H.E. Tomita, Adm. Walsh, Gen. Oriki, and MG Sugai

On March 30, Sasakawa USA, in partnership with the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), co-hosted an event on the key Pacific security policy priorities of the 117th Congress. During the event, Rep. Don Bacon (R-NE) and Rep. Marc Veasey (D-TX) discussed Congress’ role in developing U.S. strategy in the Indo-Pacific, and shared their views on important issues facing the region and their impact on the Armed Services Committee decision making. The Hon. Peter Roskam (R-IL, 2007-2019) moderated the event. A recap and video of this event will be posted to the Sasakawa USA website in the coming weeks.

Photo: Rep. Bacon, Rep. Veasey, and Hon. Roskam

On March 23, Sasakawa USA, as part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, hosted a virtual event in remembrance of the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. During the event, Amb. John Roos, Partner and Co-Founder of Geodesic Capital and U.S. Ambassador to Japan from 2009-2013, Ms. Susie Roos, Partner and CAO at Geodesic Capital, and Ms. Suzanne Basalla, President and CEO of U.S.-Japan Council and Senior Advisor to Amb. Roos at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo from 2010-2012, recounted their personal stories of being in Tokyo on March 11, 2011, and in the days and months that followed. A video of the event is available on the Sasakawa USA website.

Event photo: clockwise from top left, Ms. Shoji, Ms. Roos, Ms. Basalla, and Amb. Roos

On March 11, JUMP hosted an online event celebrating the U.S.-Japan alliance with the Japan Society of San Diego & Tijuana (JSSDT), the National Association of Japan-America Societies (NAJAS), the Embassy of Japan in the United States, and Sasakawa USA. The event, which focused on reflections on the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, featured keynote addresses by RADM Robert Girrier, USN (Ret.), Former Deputy Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Mr. Kimiaki Toda, Mayor of Ofunato, Japan, a town severely impacted by the 3.11 triple disaster. In addition, The Hon. Akira Muto, Consul General of Japan in Los Angeles, and MG Hiroyuki Sugai, Defense and Air Attaché at the Japanese Embassy in Washington, D.C., were also on hand to deliver special remarks. The event was moderated by Mr. Dave Tuites, President of JSSDT, and Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Director of JUMP, delivered brief remarks to the audience.

Photo: clockwise from top left, Mr. Tuites, RADM Girrier, Dr. Akimoto, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Toda, MG Sugai, and Hon. Muto

On March 5, Sasakawa USA welcomed Mr. Takahiro Tsuda, Alternative Executive Director of World Bank Group, for a discussion on the current state of the World Bank. During this off-the-record virtual roundtable moderated by Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, Mr. Tsuda discussed the World Bank’s responses to current important issues and Japanese perspectives. The discussion had distinguished guests from various sectors including the diplomatic corps, think tanks, private sector, as well as media. Sasakawa USA hopes to organize more Washington Kenkyu Group events highlighting important voices on how to promote international cooperation and strengthening ties between the United States and Japan.

Photo: Mr. Tsuda

On February 18, Sasakawa USA was pleased to host an online event on current affairs in Myanmar with Dr. David I. Steinberg, Distinguished Professor of Asian Studies Emeritus at Georgetown University, Min. Shinichi Iida, Minister at the Embassy of Japan in Washington, D.C., and Amb. Derek Mitchell, President of the National Democratic Institute and former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar. Dr. Steinberg began the briefing by reviewing the democratization movement in Myanmar as well as the political dynamics in the country. Following his remarks, Min. Iida and Amb. Mitchell addressed what policy options are available for Japan and the United States respectively, and discussed how the two countries can best coordinate their strategies regarding Myanmar. A video and recap of the event is available here.

Photo: Dr. Steinberg, Min. Iida, and Amb. Mitchell

On February 17, Sasakawa USA, in partnership with the U.S. Association of Former Members of Congress (FMC), co-hosted an event on the policy priorities of the new 117th Congress. During the event, The Hon. Susan Brooks (R-IN, 2013-2021), The Hon. Gil Cisneros (D-CA, 2019-2021), The Hon. Ryan Costello (R-PA, 2015-2019), and The Hon. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT, 2013-2019) discussed current issues facing Congress including COVID-19 relief legislation, divisiveness in the United States, climate change, and national security. Mr. Peter Weichlein, CEO of FMC moderated the event. To learn more about this event, please visit the Sasakawa USA website here for a full recap and video.

Photo: clockwise from top left, Hon. Brooks, Hon. Cisneros, Hon. Costello, Mr. Weichlein, and Hon. Esty

In his latest Japan Political Pulse article, “A Renewed Sense of Leadership for Prime Minister Suga,” Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, analyzed why Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga’s approval ratings have been trending more positive recently. Dr. Akimoto highlighted various reasons for why public opinion was becoming more favorable of Prime Minister Suga. Some of those key factors included the Japanese government’s expansive use of COVID-19 emergency declarations and Suga’s shift towards an increasingly hardline stance towards China. He also posited that if Suga was able to successfully hold the Tokyo Olympics this summer, the chances of him maintaining his position as President of the Liberal Democratic Party and consequently extending his prime minister term would be greater.

Photo: Prime Minister Suga meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo on their first official trip in the Biden Administration on March 16, 2021. (Official Website of the Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet)

Sasakawa USA is pleased to announce the upcoming publication of two papers in its Japan Looking Ahead series, which examines policy areas in which Japan is developing or implementing novel strategies. Both papers investigate areas of public health policy. One, authored by Dr. Aya Goto and Dr. Yui Yumiya of Fukushima Medical University, focuses on community healthcare in Japan as viewed through the public health nursing system. The other, written by Dr. Kayo Takuma of Tokyo Metropolitan University, examines Japan’s role in promoting equitable global COVID-19 vaccine access. Please stay tuned to Sasakawa USA’s website for future news on this project.

Dr. Satohiro Akimoto, Chairman and President of Sasakawa USA, contributed an article to Gaiko, a bimonthly magazine on International Relations published by Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dr. Akimoto’s article titled “Biden Doctrine and China Policy” analyzes the Biden administration’s current China policy by casting light on the “Biden Doctrine” and remarks by key members of the administration, including the President. He points out views on how to effectively deal with China is not monolithic within the administration. Prime Minister Suga’s meeting with President Biden is an opportunity for Japan, as the biggest ally in the Indo-Pacific, to provide input into the formulation of the administration’s grand strategy vis-à-vis China.

Photo source: Website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/press/pr/gaikou/vol66.html)

On April 13, Sasakawa USA will host an online discussion with the Hon. Randall G. Schriver, Former Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs, Amb. Kurt Tong, Partner at the Asia Group, and the Hon. Masashi Adachi, Member, House of Councilors, the National Diet of Japan. President Joe Biden has marked the Indo-Pacific as a priority region for foreign policy through hosting a broad assortment of high-level exchanges and meetings in his first 100 days in office, including 2+2 meetings with Japan and South Korea, a virtual summit with the “Quad,” and dialogue with China. Furthermore, with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga set to make an official visit to Washington in early April, this trend is set to continue. Our speakers will discuss how the Biden administration will tackle key issues in Asia, including competition with China, alliance management, and reestablishing leadership in this critical region.

Photo: Amb. Tong, Hon. Schriver, and Hon. Adachi