Blinken visits Japan because the decision on Nippon Steel affects the relationship

The decision of the US President Joe Biden block the Nippon Steel application for the purchase of US Steel worth $ 14.9 billion to the Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to Japan on a farewell meeting with the most important ally of Washington in Asia.


The refusal announced on Friday undermined the efforts of the United States to strengthen ties, while the political crisis in the neighboring South Korea potentially complicates the deepening trilateral relations between Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, formed to counteract the growing military power of China.

Subscribe to Iron ore Digest


On Monday, Japanese Prime Minister Siger Isib called Biden's decision to block the sale of US Steel, Nippon Steel, perplexing.

Analysts argue that although Japanese investments in the United States can also be reduced, given the general fears of the two countries about China, any damage to their wider relations will probably be limited against the background of political transformations in the United States, where Donald will become president on January 20 Trump.

Meetings
Accompanied by the White House for National Security, Jake Sullivan Blinken met in Tokyo with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeshi, after which he met with other high -ranking Japanese officials, including Isibu.

Seven trips to Japan over the past four years “testify not only to importance, but also about the central place that the United States give to our partnership. President Biden asked me to come on this last trip to emphasize this, ”said Blinken Ivai.

“There is a partnership between our two countries, which was initially focused on bilateral issues, then worked on regional problems, and now it has become truly global,” he added.

On the eve of the trip, the State Department said that Blinken would like to continue the development of tripartite cooperation between the United States, Japan and South Korea.

On Monday, in Seoul, Blinken confirmed the belief that South Korea would cope with political upheaval, while investigators are trying to extend the arrest of the President of the President Yun Jole Yolya.

Trump's allies also assured Seoul and Tokyo in that he would support further efforts to improve relations and the development of military, economic and diplomatic cooperation to counteract China and North Korea, Reuters reported on November 5.

Voltage, limited damage from the Nippon Steel solution
Nippon Steel and US Steel filed a lawsuit on Monday, accusing Bayden of violation of the US Constitution, blocking their merger in the amount of $ 14.9 billion through what they called a fictitious review of national security. They called on the US Federal Court to cancel this decision.

Nicholas Sichni, Japanese Expert from the Washington Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that Biden’s decision will make Blinken’s visit to Tokyo “Western”.

However, “Japan will not allow the decision of Nippon Steel to poison relations between the United States and Japan; This is too important for Japan's national security, ”he said.