Japanese PM Fumio Kishida’s Diplomatic Slip Up: Calls China an ‘Ally’ in Press Conference

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan had a slip of the tongue during a joint press conference with President Joe Biden on the 10th (local time), referring to China as an “ally” before quickly correcting himself.

In response to a reporter’s question about diplomatic relations with China, Prime Minister Kishida said in Japanese, “China is our ally,” and then immediately apologized, adding, “Based on our strong trust relationship with our ally, the United States, we will urge China to fulfill its responsibilities as a major power,” according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) on the 11th.

SCMP reported that after correcting his slip of the tongue at the press conference following the US-Japan summit at the White House in Washington, D.C., Prime Minister Kishida raised his right hand toward the reporters as a sign of apology.

Prime Minister Kishida made his first state visit to the United States as Prime Minister in nine years.

In their summit, Prime Minister Kishida and President Biden agreed to expand their security alliance against China’s growing military and economic influence in the Indo-Pacific region and strengthen their supply chains for critical goods.