Now, with the Biden government in place and with China increasingly assertive, Japan seems more willing to join the United States in its unequivocal criticism of China’s actions.
Kishi, the defense minister, said Japan “cannot accept in any way” China’s actions to increase tensions in the eastern and southern seas of China and indicated that they were in breach of international law.
However, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi was less open in criticizing China.
While Blinken explicitly pointed to China – and Myanmar, where the military struck a coup last month – for threatening “democracy, human rights and the rule of law”, Motegi avoided mentioning China directly. He said he hailed the alliance for its role in protecting “peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific”.
Analysts said Japan could moderate its language because it has more to lose from the confrontation with China.
“A big difference is its economic relations with China,” said Narushige Michishita, vice president of the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo. “While the United States can live without China, Japan cannot. They have to find common ground there. “
The high-level visit from Washington sought, in part, to remind Japan that it shares many points in common with the United States. The fact that it was Blinken’s and Austin’s first official overseas trip since taking office was repeated several times on Tuesday to assure Japan of its value to the Biden government.
The alliance with Japan has never suffered as much damage under the Trump administration as U.S. partnerships in Europe. Mr. Abe maintained a close relationship with Mr. Trump and hosted him on two visits to Japan. Last October, when then Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the two exchanged a punch that lasted 15 seconds.
On Tuesday, when Mr. Suga met Mr. Austin and Mr. Blinken at their official residence, they all bowed – as is the custom in Japan.
Makiko Inoue contributed reporting from Tokyo, and Steven Lee Myers from Seoul.