Mr. Biden clarifies his duty to defend the Senkaku Islands Telephone talks with Prime Minister Suga

    On the 12th, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga had a telephone conversation with former Vice President Joe Biden, who was confirmed to be elected in the US presidential election. Mr. Biden expressed the view that the Senkaku Islands (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture) are within the scope of Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty, which stipulates the US defense obligations of Japan. They also agreed to hold face-to-face talks "as soon as possible."

　After the meeting, the Prime Minister responded to a reporter's interview. The Prime Minister called Mr. Biden the "next president" and explained that Mr. Biden's remarks at the meeting were "a commitment to apply Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty to the Senkaku Islands."

    At the meeting, the Prime Minister congratulated Mr. Biden and Vice Presidential Candidate Harris, saying, "The Japan-US alliance is indispensable for the increasingly severe peace and stability of Japan's surrounding areas and the international community, and further strengthening is needed." Expressed. He also called for cooperation in resolving the abduction issue by North Korea, calling for cooperation between Japan and the United States toward the realization of a free and open Indo-Pacific. The two sides agreed to cooperate in Japan and the United States on issues common to the international community, such as measures against the new coronavirus and climate variability issues.

    Mr. Biden has a telephone conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the 9th. On the 10th, telephone talks were held with the leaders of European countries such as the United Kingdom, and the Japanese government was working on Mr. Biden to realize the talks at an early stage.

Source: https://www.sankei.com/politics/news/201112/plt2011120007-n1.html