Japan and U.S. in the Indo-Pacific region under the J. Biden administration

Abstract

The article analyzes the approaches of the United States and Japan to the international political problems in the Indo-Pacific region at the beginning of the administration of the 46th President of the United States Joe Biden in 2021. It also aims to evaluate the perspectives of US-Japan cooperation in key areas. The article analyses the policies of the United States and Japan towards China. Japan supported J. Biden's approach to confront China on a wide range of issues. By actively involving in the US-China confrontation government in Tokyo aims to strengthen its position in rivalry with China. However, it will not be easy for Japan to preserve the achievements of the "warm" period in Japan-China relations in 2018-2020 in the economic and humanitarian spheres. The article also analyses the approaches of the US and Japan to the situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the prospects for cooperation between Tokyo, Washington and Seoul towards DPRK. Difficult-to-resolve contradictions between Tokyo and Seoul in a short-term perspective will hinder large-scale cooperation of the parties with Washington. The article also analyses the perspectives of the concept of "Free and open Indo-Pacific region". Tokyo which sees the concept of "Free and open Indo-Pacific region" as a response to the expansion of Beijing's influence in the region, is interested in developing economic cooperation with partners aimed at weakening dependence on China. The article also notes the increased importance of Japan in the United States’ Indo-Pacific strategy in the eyes of a number of American politicians and experts.