U.S. President Joe Biden¡¯s effort to harness U.S. alliances in Asia to counter China will get a test run during his summit with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Friday ¡ª his first in-person meeting with a foreign leader since taking office.
China¡¯s shadow will loom large over almost every topic during Suga¡¯s visit, from human rights to Taiwan to supply chain resilience. The two leaders plan to issue statements on the situation in the Taiwan Strait ¡ª a move sure to draw China¡¯s attention ¡ª as well as announce a $2 billion initiative on 5G technology, according to a U.S. official who briefed reporters on Thursday.
Yet how to strike a balance between deterring China while keeping Beijing, Japan¡¯s largest trade partner, from lashing out will be a crucial issue as the two leaders seek to project a unified voice.
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