Biden Reassures Japan, South Korea Over Alliance Commitment
- President-elect told Japan security treaty covers islands
- Biden reaffirmed commitment to South Korea in separate call
Yoshihide Suga
Photographer: Kiyoshi Ota/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden assured the leaders of Japan and South Korea of his commitment to alliances with the two Asian nations in phone calls on Thursday morning, signaling that he will pursue a markedly different strategy from Donald Trump.
Biden told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga that the security treaty between the two countries covers East China Sea islands also claimed by China. In a separate call with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to defending South Korea and resolving North Korea nuclear issues together, calling the country a “linchpin” for regional security.