Less than two months before a closely contested US election, Japan's outgoing prime minister, Fumio Kishida, on Monday reiterated his call for continued US involvement and leadership in East Asia and the world.
Kishida, who is not running in the upcoming Japanese ruling party leadership election, addressed an event hosted by Bloomberg in New York. He emphasized that the foundation of the international order is being challenged globally, citing Russia's aggression against Ukraine as an example.
During his tenure, Kishida has worked diligently to strengthen the Japan-US alliance and enhance Japan's defense capabilities. His goal has been to uphold the free and open international order grounded in the rule of law. Kishida posed a poignant question: "What kind of future do we intend to hand down to our children and grandchildren?" He argued that it should be a secure and peaceful society built on freedom and democracy, a vision that the United States has championed since the end of World War II.
Kishida's visit to the United States coincides with the UN General Assembly and the November 5 US presidential election, where Vice-President Kamala Harris is facing off against President Donald Trump. Trump has occasionally questioned the value of US alliances and support for Ukraine.
On Saturday, Kishida participated in the Quad forum alongside US President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and India. They announced joint security measures in Asia's trade-rich waters to counter growing challenges from China.
Kishida's Monday remarks echoed his April speech to the US Congress, where he warned that Ukraine could collapse under Russian pressure without US support, potentially emboldening China and igniting a new crisis in East Asia. In that speech, Kishida urged Americans not to doubt their country's "indispensable" role in global affairs and highlighted Tokyo's historic military upgrades under his leadership to support its ally.
Speaking at an event featuring prominent US asset managers, Kishida reiterated his call for investment in Japan, invoking a bold metaphor: "I would like to say even more strongly, like Captain Kirk in Star Trek: “Boldly invest in Japan, like no one has done before!”
