Japan's rare public "slapping" Biden, denying remarks about passively increasing defense spending | Japan | Biden
According to Kyodo News Agency, Japan denied US President Biden's claim on the 23rd that he convinced Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to increase Japan's defense spending, stating that Japan opposes Biden's remarks. It is rare for Japan to openly express its differences with the United States.
Japan's denial is due to Biden's statement earlier this week during a campaign in California that Japan's "doubling" of defense spending was the result of his persuasion of Kishida in the past three meetings with Fumio Kishida.
According to reports, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshi Matsuno said that Tokyo has told Washington that Biden's remarks are "misleading" and that Japan has decided to increase its defense budget. He also added that it is unclear what President Biden's intention is in the above statement.
Last December, the Kishida government promised to almost double Japan's defense budget by the end of March 2028, bringing its share of GDP to around 2%, comparable to that of NATO member countries.
The report mentions that the White House cited Biden's speech at a reception on the 20th, stating that Japan has not increased defense spending for a "long time", but Fumio Kishida "convinced himself to take different actions" after meeting with President Biden on "three different occasions".
Biden, who is seeking re-election next year, called the G7 summit held in Hiroshima in May one of three opportunities for talks, but the Japanese government had already decided to increase its defense budget before that.