Moolenaar, Colleagues Meet with Japanese Officials in Wake of PLA Military Aggression
TOKYO, JAPAN — Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party, alongside Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA), Rep. Ben Cline (R-VA), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX), and Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-GA) traveled to Japan this week to express support for the U.S.-Japan alliance and discuss ways our two countries can work together to combat the Chinese Communist Party’s rising military, economic, and ideological aggression.
In his meetings with Japanese officials, Chairman Moolenaar raised the need for increased security cooperation to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific, and urged the Japanese government to continue its work to push back on the CCP’s malign economic agenda.
Continue reading below for summaries of the delegation's key meetings.
PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA: In the delegation’s meetings with Prime Minister Kishida, the Chairman discussed the importance of the US-Japan alliance and discussed how the two countries can work together to secure critical supply chains and emerging technologies from the CCP’s malign economic practices.
DEFENSE MINISTER KIHARA: Following the recent Chinese military incursion into Japanese air space, the Chairman and the delegation expressed their support for Japan’s sovereignty. The delegation discussed the need for close security cooperation between the U.S. and Japan, and Japan’s vital role in preserving peace in the region.
MINISTER OF ECONOMY, TRADE AND INDUSTRY SAITŌ: The delegation met with the Minister of Economy, Trade, and Investment to discuss the close economic relationship between the U.S. and Japan, and how the countries can work together to strengthen those ties in light of the CCP’s aggressive economic practices.
FOREIGN MINISTER KAMIKAWA: In the delegation’s meeting with Foreign Minister Kamikawa, the group discussed the importance of American and Japanese leadership, and Japan’s role in maintaining peace in the region.
U.S. AMBASSADOR RAHM EMANUEL: The members visited the U.S. Embassy in Japan to meet with Ambassador Rahm Emanuel.
YOKOSUKA NAVAL BASE: The delegation traveled to Yokosuka Naval Base to learn more about how the Navy and other services are continuing to address the rising military aggression from the Chinese Communist Party.
AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN JAPAN: The lawmakers met with leaders at the American Chamber of Commerce to discuss the issues facing American companies operating in Japan and how the U.S. government can better support them.