The Japanese government has welcomed U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's cabinet picks for foreign affairs and security, with a senior Foreign Ministry official commending the "group of alliance-minded officials with practical experience."
At a press conference on Tuesday, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said of Antony Blinken, who was nominated for secretary of state: "He has contributed to the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance. I look forward to working with him to further develop a strong Japan-U.S. relationship when he takes office."
Blinken visited Japan many times as deputy secretary of state in the administration of former President Barack Obama, for trilateral talks with Japan and South Korea on North Korea's nuclear and missile programs among other issues, and is therefore well versed in East Asian affairs.
Blinken is expected to urge Japan and South Korea to take steps to improve their ties from the perspective of Japan-U.S.-South Korea cooperation.
Meanwhile, Biden's national security adviser pick Jake Sullivan, who served as an adviser to Biden when he was vice president in the Obama administration, is also known to be a pro-alliance advocate who supports strengthening the U.S. economy to counter China.
The absence of Susan Rice on the list of top cabinet picks has been met with a sense of relief in the Japanese government, which was concerned about the possibility of the former national security adviser in the Obama administration who attached importance to U.S.-China relations getting a key diplomatic or security post.
However, Japanese government figures are bracing themselves after the nomination of former Secretary of State John Kerry to the newly created post of special envoy for the climate.
Climate change is one of Biden's top priorities, and Japan is likely to face tough demands from a heavyweight such as Kerry. "It'll be difficult whoever the counterpart is," a senior foreign ministry official said,
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
