Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga wants to visit the United States early next year to meet with President-elect Joe Biden, but conditions on the ground could scuttle the plan.
"I would like to meet with Mr. Biden as soon as possible for thorough discussions," Suga said in a speech on Tuesday, expressing his intention to raise issues such as dealing with the novel coronavirus, climate change and North Korea's abductions of Japanese nationals.
In their first telephone conversation in November, Biden was the one to raise the issue of the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, confirming that Article 5 of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, which lays out the United States' obligations to defend Japan, applies to the islets.
In his speech, Suga said: "To be honest, I didn't expect it to be mentioned. In addition to it being Mr. Biden's idea, I think it was the result of his staff's understanding of the Japan-U.S. alliance and careful preparations."
However, the coronavirus pandemic has cast a shadow over diplomacy. U.S. officials are being careful about the health of the 78-year-old Biden.
"They'll steer clear of contact with foreign leaders even after his inauguration on Jan. 20," a senior Foreign Ministry official said.
Suga visited Vietnam and Indonesia in October in pursuit of a "free and open Indo-Pacific" vision, but since then has not laid out specific plans for more foreign trips.
In December last year, a visit to India by then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was postponed due to deteriorating public order.
While a trip to India was once seen as a candidate for travel early next year, as the pandemic shows no signs of abating in Japan or overseas, coordinating a visit has been difficult.
When asked Tuesday about the action plan for realizing his vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific, Suga said, "Centered around Japan, the United States, Australia and India, I would like to work closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states while keeping an eye on China and other areas."
A video of the speech dubbed in English can be viewed free of charge on The Japan News website.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
