Japan’s PM tells U.S. lawmakers: America doesn’t have to deal with global challenges alone

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told U.S. lawmakers on Thursday that the United States does not have to face tough global challenges alone and said Tokyo was upgrading its military capabilities to support its allies.

At a joint session of the U.S. Congress, Kishida urged the United States to continue to play its role in maintaining international order and responded to doubts from some Republican lawmakers about continuing to provide aid to Ukraine.

“American leadership is indispensable. Without American support, how long will it be before Ukraine’s hopes are dashed by Moscow’s onslaught?” Kishida asked in his speech.

Japan has provided $12 billion in aid to Ukraine, including counter-drone detection systems. Kishida also chaired a conference on economic growth in Ukraine.

U.S. lawmakers who support aid to Ukraine say failure to confront Russia would send a message to China that it can expand its ambitions in Taiwan.

“Across the region, America’s closest regional allies, such as Australia and South Korea, understand that the People’s Republic of China poses the greatest long-term strategic threat to a free and open Indo-Pacific. But they also understand that recent events in Europe or the Middle East have a profound impact on Asia. Very important,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement after Kishida’s remarks.

A $96 billion supplemental security package to provide aid to Ukraine and Indo-Pacific countries facing Chinese aggression has passed the Democratic-majority Senate but has been stalled for months in the narrowly Republican-controlled House of Representatives .

Kishida’s request to U.S. lawmakers was part of a three-day state visit to Washington. Kishida met with President Joe Biden on Wednesday and announced a number of new defense partnerships between the two countries.

The decades-long alliance between the United States and Japan is widely seen as key to countering Chinese aggression. Kishida on Thursday acknowledged the partnership with the United States and wider regional alliances.

“Without the presence of the United States, how long will it take for the Indo-Pacific region to face a more severe reality?” Kishida said in his speech. “Our alliance is a force multiplier and we are working together with these like-minded countries to achieve a free and open Indo-Pacific,” he said.