TOKYO, May 23 (NNN-NHK) – U.S. President, Joe Biden, arrived in Japan yesterday, as about 750 protesters took to the streets here, against the planned U.S.-Japan summit, and the summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (the Quad).
A series of meetings are scheduled during Biden’s three-day visit, following his trip to South Korea, including the summit of the Quad group, involving Japan, Australia and India, during which the United States is expected to hustle the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
Japanese public opinion, however, seemingly does not favour the IPEF too much.
Japanese media reported that, the IPEF has no specific content, such as tariff reduction, so it cannot bring visible economic benefits to participating members.
Takakage Fujita, director-general of a civil group, dedicated to upholding and developing the Murayama Statement, said that, the United States cooked up the IPEF, to use Japan and ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries for the benefit of its own.
Fujita said that, if the U.S. truly wants to pursue peace and development in Asia, it should follow a coordinated and friendly approach and come up with decent economic ideas.
Yesterday afternoon, around 750 people took to the streets of Tokyo, to demonstrate against the upcoming U.S.-Japan summit and the summit of the Quad group.
Tokyo authorities beefed up security and traffic control, mobilising around 18,000 police officers.– NNN-NHK
