Tokyo and Washington will step up defence cooperation

Significance Kishida and Biden hailed a historic upgrade in defence ties and announced a record volume of around 70 agreements, spanning various sectors. Impacts Heightened tension with China is likely as Beijing criticises what it sees as US and Japanese moves to create an ‘Asian NATO’. Talks between Japan and North Korea may become more likely following Biden’s welcoming of dialogue between Tokyo and Pyongyang. A Japanese bill for a new security clearance system will likely pass later this year, helping stem leaks of critical data.