Marking 80th year since Battle of Iwo Jima, Trump touts U.S.-Japan alliance
U.S. President Donald Trump touted his country's alliance with Japan in a statement released Wednesday to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima in the closing days of World War II.
"In spite of a brutal war, the United States-Japan alliance represents the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific," the statement said.
The bloody battle fought on the Pacific island between February and March of 1945 claimed some 21,900 lives on the Japanese side and about 6,800 among American forces. Iwo Jima, part of Tokyo and now known formally as Ioto, is located some 1,250 kilometers south of the capital.
While upholding his "America First" policy and transactional diplomacy, Trump has been emphasizing the importance of the U.S.-Japan relationship since his first term, from 2017 to 2021.
At his first face-to-face meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in Washington on Feb. 7, Trump said that the United States is fully committed to the security of Japan.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
8 minutes ago
Japan Opposition Stepping Up Offensive against Ruling Bloc
Tokyo, July 28 (Jiji Press)--The Japanese opposition camp, which is now the majority force in both chambers of the Diet, the country's parliament, is poised to step up its offensive against the Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling bloc. The LDP and its coalition partner, Komeito, gave up their combined House of Councillors majority in the July 20 election for the Diet's upper chamber, after losing their control of the more powerful House of Representatives in last October's general election for the Lower House. Late last week, five opposition parties--the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Innovation Party), the Democratic Party for the People, Reiwa Shinsengumi and the Japanese Communist Party--agreed to submit a bill to scrap the provisional add-on gasoline tax rate to the extraordinary Diet session set to be convened Friday. At a meeting of ruling and opposition party chiefs last Friday, Yoshihiko Noda, who heads the CDP, the biggest in the opposition camp, notified Prime Minister and LDP President Shigeru Ishiba that the opposition side is stepping up preparations for the submission of the bill. "I want you to take (the bill) seriously," Noda told Ishiba. In talks with reporters after the meeting, DPFP leader Yuichiro Tamaki indicated that it would be best for the add-on tax rate to be scrapped by the end of this year. [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]
NHK
8 minutes ago
- NHK
LDP lawmakers to discuss Upper House election loss
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party is set to hold a meeting of all its lawmakers to discuss its defeat in the recent Upper House election. Observers say Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru may face calls to step down. LDP lawmakers from both houses of the Diet can attend the meeting that begins at 3:30 p.m. on Monday at the party's headquarters in Tokyo. Earlier, in an interview with NHK, Ishiba vowed to remain in office to continue running the government. He said that if he only thinks about himself, he could make various judgments, but as the top administrative leader he has to contain such thoughts. He stressed that he will work for the sake of the people and the future of Japan without any personal interests getting in the way. During the two-hour meeting, Ishiba plans to explain his intention to steadily implement an agreement with the United States on trade and tariffs. He is also expected to seek the understanding of LDP members to continue as the party's leader, stressing that a political vacuum must be avoided amid a mountain of issues at home and abroad. LDP executives will also announce that a new organization will be established next month to analyze the causes of the election loss. Ishiba's stance has met with a backlash from lawmakers who are distancing themselves from the prime minister, including those in the now-defunct faction led by late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo. They are strongly urging the prime minister to take responsibility for the party's defeats in the Upper House race, last month's Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly elections and last year's Lower House race. Calls for Ishiba and the party's leadership team to step down are expected to intensify at the meeting. There is a possibility that some members will call for the party to officially hold Ishiba and his leadership team accountable. They could also push for the LDP's leadership election to be brought forward.
NHK
8 minutes ago
- NHK
Thailand, Cambodia expected to hold ceasefire talks on Monday
The leaders of Thailand and Cambodia are expected to hold ceasefire talks in Malaysia as military clashes continue between the two countries. Acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will reportedly meet on Monday afternoon. Military clashes broke out in a disputed border region last week. More than 30 people on both sides, including civilians, have reportedly been killed. On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said, "I called the prime ministers of each, and I said we're not going to make a trade deal unless you settle the war." US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that State Department officials are on the ground in Malaysia to assist the peace efforts. Hun Manet said in a social media post that China will take part in the meeting.
