BREAKING: President Biden Takes Questions From The Press At Briefing With Japan’s Prime Minister

President Biden held a press briefing on Wednesday with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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please have a seat it’s an honor to stand here today with the Prime Minister of Japan president kashid prime minister kashida when I became president I said that the United States would rebuild the muscle of our de Democratic alliances and we stand shoulder to- shoulder with our allies again because our alliances are America’s greatest asset the relationship with Japan is powerful proof of that that investing in our alliance and raising in our Collective Ambitions we yield remarkable results over the last three years the partnership between Japan and the United States has been transformed into a truly Global partnership and that’s thanks in no small part to the courageous leadership of prime minister kashida and I mean that sincerely together our countries are taking significant steps to strengthen defense security cooperation we’re modernizing command and control structures and to increasing the interoperability and planning of our militaries that they can work together in a seamless and effective way this is the most significant upgrade in our alliance since the end of since it was first established I’m also pleased to announce that for the first time Japan and the United States and Australia will create a network system of air missile and defense architecture we’re also looking forward to standing up a trilateral military exercise with Japan and the United Kingdom and our Aus defense partnership with Australia and the United Kingdom is a exploring how Japan can join our work in the second pillar which focuses on Advanced capabilities including AI autonomous systems all told that represents a new Benchmark for our military cooperation across a range of capabilities on the economic front our ties have never been more robust Japan is the top foreign investor in the United States say that again Japan is the top foreign investor in the United States and we the United States are the top foreign investor in Japan nearly 1 million Americans work in Japanese companies here in the United States and to name just one example a few months ago Toyota announced an 8 billion investment in a massive battery production facility in North Carolina which will employ thousands of people prime minister is going to travel to North Carolina tomorrow to visit that project don’t stay don’t stay we need you back in Japan they’ll probably to keep you he also affirm the science and education ties between Japan and the United States those tries ties stretch up to the Moon where two Japanese astronauts will join future American missions and one will become the first non-american ever to land on the moon and they reach into the high schools and universities as well where the manetta ambassador manetta’s program exist named for our dear friend nor manetta we’re going to invest in new student exchanges help train the next generation of Japanese and American leaders we’re also discuss developments in the Middle East including our shared support for a ceasefire and a hostage deal and Urgent efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza we also want to address the Iranian threat to launch a signif they’re threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel as I told prime minister Netanyahu our commitment to isra security against these threats from Iran and his proxies is Ironclad let me say it again Ironclad we’re going to do all we can to protect Israel’s security and finally I want to commend the Prime Minister himself he’s a Statesman command you know the fact is that uh you condemned Putin’s invasion of brutal invasion of Ukraine when it happened you pledge more than 122 billion doll in Aid prioritizing nuclear nonproliferation at the United Nation Security Council standing strong with the United States as we stand up for freedom of navigation including in the South China Sea and as we maintain peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits and taking the brave step of mending ties with the Republic of Korea so we can all stand shoulder-to-shoulder together tomorrow we will both be joined by another good friend president Marcos of the Philippines for a trilateral summit the first of his kind and through it all our commitment to the defense of Japan under Article 5 including theuse me Sako islands is unwavering Mr Prime Minister through our partnership we have strengthened the alliance we have expanded our work together we’ve raised our shared Ambitions and now the US Japan Alliance is a beacon to the entire world there’s no limit what our countries can and our people can do together so thank you for your partnership your leadership and your friendship and now over to you Mr Prime Minister thank you Jo IND [Music] for for [Music] for for for Tai for for for G for for [Music] the collaboration of Japan and the United States is indispensable in addition we con to advance our coration in the are such as deiz a and startups there was hug achievement also in the are of half of the 1960s when I was in theit States was of space development in the United States all those so excited in the US by spectacular implenting Arrangement has been on this occasion and provision of by Japan the allocation of two opportunties to the service to Japan were confirmed under the emus program atan a Japanese astronaut first non us asona also without Nu the realistic and practical endeav nuclear dis including of the G lead Vision last year and I the participation of the United States in the fmct friends which was launched by my initiative lastly in order to further Str the to people B which is the Cornerstone of our unwavering Japan relationship we to further promote People to People exchanges as the out our meeting today we will joint statement titled the Global Partners for the future this expression of the determination of Japan and the United States to maintain and strengthen and open International order based on the rule of law that peace stability and prosperity of the interal community and The Guiding principles with our partnership we will defend for the future of Japan and the United States IND Pacific and the world future all the more prosperous thank you Jo thank you now we’ll take a few questions Jordan fa to Bloomberg thank you Mr President last month you predicted the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates thanks to Falling inflation uh but today data showed that inflation Rose more than expected for the third straight month so how concerned are you about the fight against inflation stalling and do you stand by your prediction for a rate cut well I do stand by my prediction that before the year is out there be a rate cut this may delay at a month or so I’m not sure that I don’t we don’t know what the FED is going to do for certain but look we have dramatically reduced inflation from 9% down close to 3% we’re in a situation where we’re better situated than we were when we took office where we inflation was skyrocketing and we have a plan to deal with it whereas the opposition my opposition talks about two things they just want to cut taxes for the wealthy and uh raise taxes on other people and so I think they they have no plan our plan is one I think is still sustainable Mr Prime Minister uh you’ve said that the pond steel acquisition of us steel is a private matter but I’m wondering did you discuss the matter today with President Biden and do you believe that politics are influencing President Biden’s decision to oppose the deal and I wouldn’t mind Mr President if you answer that one too on the issue that you have raised we understand that discussions are underway between the parties we hope these discussions will unfold in directions that would be positive for both sides Japan believes that appropriate procedures based on law is being implemented by the US government Japan is the largest investor to the United States Japanese businesses employ close to 1 million workers in the United States and investment from Japan to the US can only increase upwards in the months and years to come and we wish to cement this WI wi relationship thank you I stand by my commitment to American workers I man of my word I’m going to keep it and with regard to that I stand by our commitment to our alliance this is uh exactly what we’re doing a strong Alliance as well prime minister’s microphone please [Music] toing respon the United States fer defense more PR in behavior that is the risk of dilemma in order to avoid avoid the def how Japan and US respond then take that question first this Summit we confirm that the United States and Japan will resolutely defend and bolster a free and open International order based on the r of law and that Japan and the United States AS Global Partners shall work together for that purpose on challenges concerning [Music] China point you rais on OB unilateral attempts to change status by for that Japan and the United States AS Global Partners [Music] and also as I said previous we will continue and we will corporate in challes and the president and the importance of such dialogue as well based the our Ally States we will continue to call China to fill its responsibilities as a major power I have consistently embraced is to comprehensively commot the mutual strategic relip we have China and establish a constructive and stable China relationship through efforts by both sides that has been my consistent position that I have we will continue to SE clation with China at all levels that’s it for me you know uh first of all we keep improving our lines of communications with one another that’s the United States and China we I met I’ve recently spoken at length with president shei and we’ve agreed that we would number one have personal contact with one another whenever we wanted to discuss anything so there’ll be no nothing lipped as nothing slips between as they say between the cup and the lip so we know exactly what the other team is thinking number one and uh so we had a long discussion last uh almost I guess almost two weeks ago now and uh the best way to reduce the chances of miscalculation and misunderstanding that’s number one number two in our alliance we have with Japan is a purely defensive in nature it’s a defensive Alliance and the things we discussed today improve our cooperation and our and are purely about defense and Readiness it’s not aimed at any one nation or threat to the region and it uh it doesn’t have anything to do with conflict and uh so this is about restoring stability in the region and I think we have a chance of doing that okay third next question who I call on next hang on a second I got my list here hang on I apologize really of AFP thank you my first question would go to both of you Mr President and Mr Prime Minister is there there a path for Japan to become a full member of okas and I would have a second question for you Mr President you’re now saying that Benjamin metano is making a mistake in Gaza what are you willing to do to make him change his strategy and would you consider conditioning military aid to Israel thank you your question aboutus I will respond country we want to contribute to the peace and stability of the region and therefore we have consistently supported oras that the participants of oruk Australia countries relationship or M OCC we have established various relationships for JA to have a direct coration withus nothing has been decided at this moment going forward with us UK with Australia such countries bilateral or mul Frameworks will continue will continue to be considered moment about the relationship between Japan and orcus that’s it with regard to uh my discussions with BB Netanyahu prime minister Netanyahu as well as our relationship with Israel I have been very blunt and straightforward with the Prime Minister as well as his War cabinet as well as the cabinet and uh the fact of the matter is that uh BB and I had a long discussion he agreed to do several things that related to number one getting more Aid both food and Medicine in the Gaza and reducing significantly the attempts the civilian casualties in any action taken in the region and thus far and we and that’s tied to the hostages there are a number of hostages that are being held uh by uh by the uh Hamas and uh just yesterday we’re meeting with vice president our national security advisor before that and they and they’re American hostages as well and they know how committed we are the whole team to getting their loved ones home we’re not going to stop until we do the new proposal on the table Bill Burns led the effort to uh for us we’re grateful for his work there’s a now up to Hamas they need to move on the proposal that’s been made and as I said uh we get these hostages home where they belong but also bring back back a six week ceasefire that we need now and the fact is that we’re they’re getting in somewhere in the last three days over 100 trucks it’s not enough but need to be more and there’s one more opening that has to take place in the north so we’ll see what he does in terms of meeting the commitments he made to me the last reporter Mr shimu please thank you shimu of NHK the abduction issue of North Korea expressed your wish to have a direct engagement thatu is already resoled they are refus what did you what engagement question what did you hear from and what is your observation president and with a nu is what is your position do you support early Summit between Japan and North Korea thank you first of all if I may start regarding myit me with President Biden about North Korea including the missile and nuclear issues we have discussed and regarding the increasingly worrying situation we have agreed to continue a close coordination and on top of that we concurred that the window of a discussion with North Korea is open and discussed that Japan us Japan us and R will continue to work closely together I also asked for the continued understanding and cooporation for the immediate resolution of the abduction issue and the President Biden once again gave myself a very strong Assurance regarding the recent Announcement by North Korea I will refrain from commenting on each and every Announcement by North Korea but as I have been mentioning repeatedly based on other perspective that the establishment of a meaning for relation between Japan and North Korea is in the interest of both Japan and North Korea and that it would be hugely beneficial to the peace and stability of the region my policy is to aim for a Summit meeting with North Korea to resolve various issues and will advance high level consultation directly under my instruction and that remains unchanged that is my response we did discuss this issue and we both agree that dprk must must also address the serious human rights and humanitarian concerns of the International Community including the immediate resolution of the abduction issue but you know the Prime Minister has just spoken to the potential what his plans may mean but welcome I welcome the opportunity we welcome the opportunity of our allies to initiate dialogue with the Democratic Republic of Korea so I’ve said many times we’re open to dialogue ourselves at any time without preconditions with the dprk so I have faith in the in the Japan I have faith in the Prime Minister and I think his seeking a dialogue with them is a good thing it’s a positive thing thank you thank why didn’t everybody holler at once the issue of abortion so respect to what do you say to the people of Arizona right now we’re witnessing a law going in place that dates back to the Civil Warrior elect me I’m in the 20 20th century 21st century not back then they weren’t even a state I find thank you all very much thank you this concludes the press conference by the house the war in Ukraine comes on by the house leader allowing a vote there’s overwhelming support for Ukraine among the majority of Democrats and Republicans there should be a vote now L there is no B to Japan