125th year | no. 43,506 www.japantimes.co.jp

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水 WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2021 Building resilience of supply chains seen as crucial Kishida moves quickly with Economic ‘Quad’ leader security tops phone talks JESSE JOHNSON STAFF WRITER

New Prime Minister got off to a quick start in the diplomatic arena on PM’s agenda his first full day in office Tuesday, holding telephone talks with two of the three other KAZUAKI NAGATA Kobayashi said the government will aim leaders of “the Quad” and reaffirming ’s STAFF WRITER to submit necessary bills to the Diet in next commitment to the grouping. year’s ordinary session, which is slated to be In Kishida’s talks with U.S. President Joe For Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, boosting convened in January. The new law will be Biden, the White House said that Biden hoped economic security is one of the top items on designed to identify, protect and foster sen- to strengthen the alliance “given the critical his agenda, with the U.S.-China trade conflict sitive technologies, secure the integrity of role” the two countries play in advancing as well as the coronavirus pandemic disrupt- fundamental infrastructure and strengthen “a common vision of a free and open Indo- ing the global supply chains on which Japa- supply chains, the new minister said. Pacific region, including through the Quad.” nese businesses rely. While there’s no doubt that what has The Quadrilateral Security Dialogue “I will take measures to ensure we have the prompted Japan to look at the area of eco- groups four major Indo-Pacific democra- strategic technology and supplies, prevent nomic security is China’s growing economic cies — Australia, India, Japan and the U.S. In technologies from flowing out of the coun- influence, Kobayashi nonetheless said the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Prime Minister’s Office on Tuesday KYODO their first in-person summit late last month, try and create a self-sustaining economy,” government is not targeting a particular the leaders of the four countries vowed to Kishida said in a news conference Monday. nation. able to give instructions to all ministries” — a information can be stored within the country. ing Japan’s own chip industry, which once be “undaunted by coercion,” presenting Tasked with the job is Takayuki Kobayashi, “The relationship with China is extremely quality that Kobayashi is seen to have, given Such disruptions have already had an dominated the world. a united front amid shared concerns over 46, a third-term Lower House lawmaker from important. Japan and China indeed have var- the role he has already held as an executive impact on output by Japanese automak- “I think the government needs to convey a growing Chinese assertiveness in the region. the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who is ious issues, but I think a stable bilateral rela- on the LDP’s committee in charge of eco- ers, with factories in Vietnam and Malaysia specific message to encourage (companies) Kishida, who holds the record as Japan’s well-versed in the topic and has taken on the tionship is the key to prosperity for not only nomic security policy, which has seen him faced shutdowns over the summer due to to revitalize the industry,” he said. longest-serving top diplomat, also held tele- newly established role of economic security Sino-Japan relations but also for the regional work on the topic over the past year. the pandemic. Kobayashi is also the minister in charge phone talks with Australian Prime Minister minister. and global communities,” Kobayashi said. In May, Kobayashi and other members of As for semiconductors, the supply of of science and technology as well as space Scott Morrison later in the day, with the pair “The cornerstones of national strategy are To achieve that, Kobayashi said it is criti- the LDP committee submitted a proposal which has remained severely constrained policies. pledging to deepen bilateral ties and coop- an economy that enriches people’s lives and cal that China follow international rules and to then-Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga sug- over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Although the government intends to eration within the Quad framework. security that protects the nation ... (and) they fulfill its responsibility as the world’s second- gesting the government create an economic building more diverse and resilient supply help facilitate research and development In a statement released by Japan’s Foreign are intermixing more and more nowadays,” biggest economy. security strategy and draft the legislation chains is essential for Japanese manufactur- of some key innovations, such as quantum Ministry that did not explicitly mention Bei- Kobayashi said during his first news confer- In addition, he said that while working necessary to implement related measures. ers, said Kobayashi. technology and artificial intelligence, that are jing, the two leaders also voiced strong oppo- ence as minister on Tuesday. “The govern- closely with like-minded allies will help Economic security has increasingly Other nations, especially the U.S. and already the subject of wider research, he sug- sition to “unilateral attempts to change the ment needs to deal with the economy and improve economic security, designing a become a priority for Japan, with Suga ded- China, are eager to secure chips and are gested that Japan also look for unique areas status quo in the East and South China seas security as one and promote this new policy structure to support economic self-sustain- icating an entire chapter of his growth strat- ratcheting up investment. U.S. President Joe in which its strengths can bloom by pictur- and economic intimidation.” area.” ability is also crucial. egy to the issue. Biden has called for $50 billion to be spent ing what society could look like over the next In Kishida’s talks with Biden, the U.S. leader One of the major tasks for Kobayashi, a It is rare for a three-term lawmaker — con- The strategy states that Japan will focus on subsidizing the U.S. chip industry. five to 10 years. reaffirmed Washington’s “strong” commit- Finance Ministry bureaucrat-turned-politi- sidered a relatively junior politician in Japan reducing the risk of supply chain disruptions Japan aims to persuade foreign semi- ment to defending the Japanese-controlled, cian, is to create a new legal framework to — to be appointed to a ministerial post that for some vital products, such as semiconduc- conductor foundries, such as Taiwan Semi- Related story » Chinese-claimed Senkaku Islands amid facilitate the implementation of economic requires coordinating with multiple minis- tors, medical items, batteries and rare earths. conductor Manufacturing Co., to create ’s ramped-up activities near the islets. security policies — a pledge from Kishida’s tries. But LDP Secretary-General Akira Amari It also pledges to prop up the competitive- manufacturing bases in Japan by teaming Kishida administration faces campaign during the LDP leadership race said in a TV news program on Monday that ness of the chip industry and sets out a plan to up with domestic chipmakers. In addition, Staff writer Satoshi Sugiyama contributed to PAGE 4 last month. the economic security minister “needs to be build more domestic data centers so sensitive Kobayashi stressed the importance of reviv- debate over energy this story.

N. Korea eyes concessions from South Catalyst of Peace both at the same time. The regime has in FFocus recent months restarted activity at its plu- JON HERSKOVITZ tonium-production site and fired off several BLOOMBERG new weapons systems designed for strikes against Japan and South Korea, which host North Korea has labeled Moon Jae-in a med- the bulk of U.S. troops in Asia. INSIDE TODAY dlesome mediator and reduced to rubble a If successful, Kim’s appeal to Moon could HIROSHIMA for Global Peace NATIONAL 2 OPINION 9 $15 million liaison office that was one of the have the added benefit of widening gaps + Community INSIGHTS 3 SPORTS 10 South Korean president’s biggest diplomatic between Washington and a key ally. Kim BUSINESS 4, 5 achievements. may be seeking to increase his leverage if he ASIA 6 On Monday, however, Kim Jong Un’s returns to nuclear-disarmament talks with WORLD 7 regime abruptly restored communication the U.S. The Biden administration has told WEATHER 7 with South Korea via hotlines that Pyong- Moon Jae-in REUTERS North Korea the door is open for talks and has yang had let fall silent for about two months. indicated it could offer incentives in exchange The move came after Kim’s sister praised end to the 1950-53 Korean War, which Moon for nuclear disarmament steps. But Pyong- Moon as a man of admirable ideas. urged anew during an address to the United yang dismissed the overture as a “petty trick.” The change in tone likely has a lot to do with Nations last month. Kim Yo Jong, the North Korean leader’s sis- the political calendar in . South Korea South Korean Unification Minister Lee ter who has led pressure campaigns against elects a new president in March and time is In-young told Yonhap News Agency he saw Seoul and Washington, praised Moon’s #You call that peace? running out for Moon to make good on one the restoration of the communications links recent call for peace as an “interesting and of his core pledges to bring the two Koreas as marking a “restart” in efforts to improve ties. an admirable idea.” About two weeks earlier, closer to peace. North Korea sees the election A summit — perhaps on the sidelines of she had denounced his criticism of North as a chance to win concessions from Moon and the Winter Olympics in Beijing in February Korea’s weapons tests as foolish. get him to press the U.S. to do the same. — would provide a timely boost for Moon’s South Korea has little power to actually “It appears that North Korea’s strategy for progressives, who have long backed engage- bring about a peace treaty after it refused to now is to work through South Korea,” said ment with North Korea, but public opinion sign the armistice among U.S.-led U.N. forces, Rachel Minyoung Lee, a nonresident fellow polls suggest the conservative People Power North Korea and China that ended the Korean Taiwan’s need to stay alert with the 38 North Program at the Stimson Party has a shot at winning office. War’s fighting. America has talked about a Island warns of the dangers of China’s excessive Center. “It is pressuring Seoul to not walk in Kim has been looking to rally domestic con- peace deal and diplomatic recognition as military activities | ASIA, PAGE 6 lockstep with Washington’s North Korea pol- fidence as North Korea faces one of its worst something that would follow an agreement icy and to persuade the Biden administration food shortage in years. He is struggling to build to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear arms pro- ISSN 0289-1956 © , LTD., 2021 to offer concrete incentives to North Korea.” an economy that has shrunk since he took gram. For Moon, that wait may be too long. Consumption tax included The restoration of the hotlines — estab- power about a decade ago after being hit with “Pyongyang is taking advantage of Moon’s desperation to leave behind a Korean peace (本体価格¥236) lished in 2018 after a series of historic sum- global sanctions to punish Pyongyang for defy- ¥260 mits between Kim and Moon — comes ing U.N. resolutions by testing nuclear weap- legacy before March by dangling hopes to as Pyongyang dangles the prospects of ons and missiles that can deliver warheads. make Seoul work harder to satisfy the regime another face-to-face meeting before the While North Korea has frequently shifted and break from Washington,” said Duyeon 4910856470611 South Korean leader leaves office. The sum- between provocations and diplomatic over- Kim, an adjunct senior fellow in Seoul with https://sdgsforpeace.tokyo/ 00236 mit would discuss matters such as the formal tures, Kim now appears to be trying to do the Center for New American Security.

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