Joe Biden says Japan and US will face “challenges posed by China”

US President Joe Biden said on Friday that his country and Japan would face “challenges” from China.

“We are committed to working together to address China’s challenges on issues such as the East China Sea, the South China Sea and also North Korea,” Biden told a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide. . Suga, the first foreign dignitary to be greeted in the White House.

For his part, Suga assured that both countries would oppose “any attempt” by Beijing to “change the status quo by force or intimidation in the East and South China Sea.”

The Japanese prime minister also reaffirmed that the US-Japan security treaty covers the Senkaku archipelago, a territory China calls Diaoyu and where there is growing activity in Beijing.

On the other hand, Suga also warned on Friday that his country would do everything possible to contain coronavirus infections and hold “safe” Olympics this year.

“Japan listens and learns from WHO (World Health Organization) and experts”, Suga said. He also said: “They do everything possible to contain contagion and to play safe games from a scientific and objective perspective.”

“I have expressed my determination to host the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games as a symbol of global unity this summer, and President Biden has once again expressed his support.”added the prime minister.

After being postponed for a year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Tokyo Games are set to open in July. But uncertainty about its viability has grown due to the growing attack of the virus around the globe.

The organizers of the sports competition said on Friday that they have postponed another stage of the Olympic relay of the Olympic torch, the third that will be affected by an increase in infections and that a BMX Freestyle test event scheduled for April 24 and 25 will also be postponed.

With information from AFP

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