Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio says he is determined to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order, based on the achievements of his recent visit to the United States.
Kishida told the Lower House plenary session on Thursday that the international community faces complex and diverse challenges and the security environment surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe.
But he went on to say that Japan and the US have confirmed their global partnership based on friendship and trust that are stronger than ever before. He touted the joint statement with US President Joe Biden as one of his achievements.
Kishida expressed the unwavering resolve of the two countries to maintain and strengthen a free and open international order based on the rule of law, which he called the foundation of peace and prosperity.
An opposition lawmaker referred to the agreement reached at the summit to modernize the command and control of Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the US Forces based in Japan. The lawmaker asked Kishida if this would signify the integration of the two countries' troops.
Kishida explained there has been no change in the fact that the prime minister directs and supervises the Self-Defense Forces as the commander-in-chief, and that the Self-Defense Forces would never be placed under the effective command and control of the US military.