A: Hey there! So, what'd you catch up on lately? Anything interesting from Japan?
B: Not much, just keeping up with daily stuff. Why? What's new?

A: Well, our buddy George Glass, the US Ambassador to Japan, gave a speech in Tokyo over the weekend. He was talking about that big alliance between Tokyo and Washington.

B: Oh, you mean the one about the tariffs?

A: Exactly! He said there are some who might think those talks could shake things up for this strong bond, but he's confident it won't happen. He even called such thoughts "way off."

B: And what else did he talk about?

A: Well, he also mentioned the situation with China and Taiwan, as well as the South China Sea. He emphasized that keeping China from causing trouble is crucial for a free Indo-Pacific region.

B: Sounds serious... So, what's the US ambassador asking Japan to do about it?

A: He said they need to keep building up their defense capabilities to stay vigilant on every front and in every sector. That way, together, they can face these challenges head-on!
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US Ambassador to Japan George Glass has stressed that the alliance between Tokyo and Washington is firm and will not be undermined by the tariff negotiations.



Glass gave a speech at an event in Tokyo on Friday.



Regarding the tariff talks, he said: "I know there are some who would look at our current trade negotiations and see trouble ahead of this great alliance. But nothing could be further from the truth."



He noted that the alliance is "greater than any one set of trade talks or defense negotiations."



Regarding the increase in China's activities around Taiwan and in the South China Sea, Glass said that "deterring aggression by Communist China is key to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific."
The ambassador added, "That's why we need to be vigilant on every front and in every sector." Glass indicated that the US wants Japan to continue to bolster its defense capabilities.