Japan Steps Up on China, Russia and 'Strategic Issues' Amid Defense Review in Biden Call

Last month, Kishida's ruling Liberal Democratic Party launched a review of the National Defense Strategy and Kishida made it clear in the days leading up to his call with Biden that the government was not ruling out any considerations in reforming Japan's military doctrine. At the heart of their territorial row at sea are the Pinnacle Islands, referred to as Senkaku by Japan and Diaoyu by China. China is not the only major power with which Japan has territorial issues. Since the end of World War II, Russia has administered the Kuril Islands chain, four islands of which are still claimed by Japan as the Northern Territories. The security dynamics of the alliance between Washington and Tokyo have been the subject of talks between Russia and Japan. "Our two countries have been discussing security in the Asia-Pacific region, including the challenges and threats caused by the efforts by Japan and the United States to step up their military and political cooperation, in a face-to-face format, primarily at the level of our respective security councils," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova told a press briefing Thursday on the eve of Biden and Kashida's virtual meeting. Developments continue in the region as Russia moves to establish a special economic zone on the islands still claimed by Japan.