U.S. President Joe Biden will meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday — and political analysts say China’s growing influence will likely be high on the agenda.
The two leaders will gather in Washington in what will be
Countering China’s Belt and Road Initiative
Biden and Suga are expected to discuss U.S.-Japan security partnership and other potential areas of cooperation during their meeting. That could include climate change, the Covid-19 pandemic and stability in the Taiwan Strait, said analysts.
One possible outcome of the summit is an infrastructure plan focusing on high-quality projects such as high-speed 5G internet and clean energy, Nikkei Asia reported last week.
Such a U.S.-Japan infrastructure cooperation could rival China’s massive Belt and Road Initiative, the report said.
The Belt and Road Initiative is China’s ambitious program to build physical and digital infrastructure that connects hundreds of countries from Asia to the Middle East, Africa and Europe. Many critics consider it Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy to expand his country’s global influence.
Japan’s balancing act
Japan is an important U.S. ally in Asia, where Chinese influence has grown over the last few years.
The Biden administration has prioritized Japan in its diplomatic activities in Asia-Pacific.
For Japan, “balancing between the US and China right now requires a precise understanding of the intention and scope of US measures,” said Wood of Control Risks.
Eurasia Group’s Thomas said Japan would stop short of supporting U.S. position on human rights issues and policies to selectively “decouple” from the Chinese economy.
Reference: CNBC
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