US and Japan forge closer ties amidst missile and moon landing initiatives

• Plans to expand the air defense network to include Australia are announced.
• A Japanese astronaut will join NASA's Artemis program to land on the Moon, becoming the first non-American to do so.
• The talks primarily focused on defense matters in the Indo-Pacific, Ukraine, and Gaza.

During his Washington visit, US President Joe Biden and Japan's Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida, pledged to enhance defense cooperation in response to a potential threat from China. They announced plans to expand the air defense network to include Australia.

Mr. Biden also announced that a Japanese astronaut would join NASA's Artemis program to land people on the Moon, making them the first non-American to set foot on the lunar surface.

From the Rose Garden of the White House during Mr. Kishida's state visit to Washington, Mr. Biden declared that the deals represented "the most significant upgrade of our alliance since its establishment."

During about two hours of talks, the two leaders primarily focused on defense matters in the Indo-Pacific, as well as the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

North Korea, Taiwan, and China were a particular focus of the discussions, Mr Kishida said, calling on an "international order based on the rule of law" to be maintained.

"Unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion is unacceptable, wherever it may be," Mr Kishida said.

"Regarding Russia's aggression of Ukraine... Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow."

As part of the agreements, Mr. Biden announced that the US military would establish a joint command structure with its Japanese counterparts.

The two allies will also develop a joint air and missile defense network in the region along with Australia, as well as participate in three-way military exercises, along with UK forces.

Mr. Kishida acknowledged that, while the US and Japan would continue to respond to "challenges" from China, they "confirmed the importance of continuing our dialogue with China and cooperating with China on common challenges".

In the space sector, Japan will provide and operate a "pressurized lunar rover". At the same time, the US will allow two Japanese astronauts to take part in NASA's Artemis missions and - eventually - allow a Japanese astronaut to become the first non-American to land on the Moon.

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