Ishiba Seeks Explanation for Biden's Decision over U.S. Steel
Ise, Mie Pref., Jan. 6 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that he wants the U.S. government to clarify why President Joe Biden decided to block the proposed acquisition of United States Steel Corp. by Japan's Nippon Steel Corp. on the grounds of national security risk.
"We can't discuss the future without a clear explanation about why there's a security concern," Ishiba said at his New Year press conference, held in Ise in Mie Prefecture, central Japan, after visiting Ise Jingu, a major Shinto shrine in the city, earlier in the day.
Referring to Biden's decision, which was announced Friday, Ishiba said: "Unfortunately, it's true that Japanese industry has expressed concerns about future investments between Japan and the United States. We have no choice but to take this seriously."
"I'd like to strongly urge the U.S. government to take measures to dispel the concerns," the prime minister said, adding that this is "very important for our future relationship, even though we are allies."
Also at the press conference, the prime minister pledged to work aggressively on regional revitalization, vowing to promote the relocation of government agencies to local areas.
(2025/01/06-17:55)
To read a full story, please click here to find out how to subscribe.
NATION
- 01/12 15:36 Japan Foreign Chief Says He Will Attend Trump's Inauguration
- 01/12 12:57 Tokyo to Offer Up to 100,000 Yen for Painless Delivery
- 01/11 21:55 (Update) Japan, Indonesia Confirm Expansion of Security Cooperation
- 01/11 16:39 Japan Agrees to Provide High-Speed Patrol Boats to Indonesia
- 01/11 01:46 Japan Foreign Min. to Attend Trump's Inauguration
- 01/10 23:38 (Update) 8 Injured in Hammer Attack on Univ. Campus in Tokyo
- 01/10 22:41 Japan to Set Energy-Saving Target for Data Centers
- 01/10 22:02 Firms' Net Buying of Japan Stocks Hits Record High in 2024
- 01/10 21:41 Japan Regrets Denmark's Refusal to Extradite Activist
- 01/10 21:00 Japan Defense Minister to Visit Britain from Mon.
- 01/10 20:38 Japan's First Lady Makes Diplomatic Debut in Malaysia
- 01/10 20:11 Japan, S. Korea Foreign Ministers to Meet in Seoul Mon.
- 01/10 19:52 Bird Flu Spreads in Japan's Aichi
- 01/10 19:48 Japan to Name Funakoshi Vice Foreign Minister
- 01/10 19:03 (Update) Japan, Malaysia to Promote Security Cooperation
- 01/10 18:58 Japan Coincident Economic Index Down for 1st Time in 3 Months
- 01/10 18:50 8 Injured in Hammer Attack at Hosei Univ. Tama Campus
- 01/10 18:17 U.S. Envoy Lauds Enhanced Deterrence against "Axis of Autocrats"
- 01/10 17:57 Japan Govt Project to Help Improve Accommodation Operators
- 01/10 17:47 Japan Envoy Creates Social Media Buzz for Singing Welsh Anthem
- 01/10 17:07 F-35B Delivery to Japan to Be Postponed to April or After
- 01/10 16:37 Heavy Snow Hits Sea of Japan Coastal Regions
- 01/10 15:55 Japan, Malaysia to Promote Security Cooperation
- 01/10 13:58 Japan Names Okano as Chief of National Security Secretariat
- 01/10 13:18 Japan Expands Sanctions against Russia
- 01/10 12:51 Japan Household Spending Falls 0.4 Pct in Nov.
- 01/10 11:41 Japan to Step Up Efforts to Increase Food Exports
- 01/10 10:30 Talk of Double Election in Summer Persists in Japan
- 01/09 23:38 Civil Rehabilitation Sought for Funai Electric's Parent
- 01/09 21:09 Japan, India Coast Guards Hold Joint Drill in Yokohama
- 01/09 20:52 (Update) Flu Cases in Japan Hit Record High
- 01/09 20:42 Japan to Convene Diet for Ordinary Session from Jan. 24
- 01/09 20:31 Biden's U.S. Steel Move Unlikely to Hurt Bilateral Ties: Emanuel
- 01/09 19:58 BOJ Raises Economic Views for 2 Regions
- 01/09 19:19 Japan Auto Unions to Seek 12,000-Yen Pay Scale Hike
- 01/09 19:11 (Update 2) Ishiba Begins Tour of Malaysia, Indonesia
- 01/09 17:54 Man Served Fresh Warrant over Fukuoka Student Stabbing
- 01/09 16:39 Alleged Yakuza Boss Pleads Guilty in U.S. to Nuclear Trafficking
- 01/09 16:23 Flu Cases in Japan Hit Record High
- 01/09 14:24 (Update) Ishiba Leaves for Malaysia, Indonesia
- 01/09 13:45 Japan Eyeing Mandatory ID Check for Scrap Metal Trading
- 01/09 13:17 Ishiba Leaves for Malaysia, Indonesia
- 01/09 08:37 Japan Real Wages Drop for 4th Consecutive Month in Nov.
- 01/09 01:24 Carbon Magnet Brought Closer to Practical Use
- 01/08 22:23 NHK to Be in Red for 3rd Straight Year after Viewing Fee Cut
- 01/08 21:39 Celebrity Masahiro Nakai Taken Off Air after Reports of Sex Scandal
- 01/08 20:51 TSE to Tighten MBO Rules to Protect Minority Interests
- 01/08 19:48 INTERVIEW: No Issues with Japan over India Shinkansen Project
- 01/08 19:19 U.S. Marine Suspected of Sexual Assault in Okinawa
- 01/08 19:00 Japan Authorities Raise Alarm over China-Linked Cyberattacks
- 01/08 18:39 Tokyo Prosecutors Not to Indict 3 over Machine Export Probes
- 01/08 18:11 Snow Damages Important Heritage Guard Tower of Hirosaki Castle
- 01/08 16:38 Lower Liquidity May Be Behind August's Tokyo Market Plunge
- 01/08 16:25 Japan Post Given Guidance for Another Subcontractor Issue
- 01/08 15:48 4 Chinese Ships Enter Japanese Waters off Senkakus
- 01/08 15:18 Automated iPS Cell Production to Start in Japan in April
- 01/08 15:11 Ishiba Mum on Whether Japan Will Attend Nuclear Ban Treaty Meeting
- 01/08 12:39 Toyama, Osaka Make N.Y. Times List of 52 Places to Go in 2025
- 01/08 09:49 Japan's Traffic Death Toll Falls to 3rd-Lowest in 2024
- 01/07 23:39 Ishiba Sends Condolences after Deadly Quake in Tibet
- 01/07 22:08 Iwaya to Visit S. Korea, Philippines, Palau from Mon.
- 01/07 21:48 Ex-Japan PM Suga to Attend Carter's State Funeral
- 01/07 21:26 Japanese Glass Eels Seen Increasing in Hokkaido
- 01/07 21:06 Healthy Speech Essential for Democracy: Ishiba
- 01/07 20:38 Japan Biz Leaders Show Willingness to Continue Wage Hikes
- 01/07 20:25 LDP to Start Talks on Selective Dual Surname System Soon
- 01/07 19:46 (Update 3) Biden's Decision on U.S. Steel "Extremely Regrettable": Iwaya
- 01/07 19:04 Hidankyo Co-Chair Vows to Keep Calling for Nuclear Abolition
- 01/07 17:23 (Update 2) Japan, U.S. Foreign Chiefs Discuss U.S. Steel Buyout Plan
- 01/07 15:53 Japan, China Ruling Parties to Resume Dialogue Next Week
- 01/07 14:18 Japan to Name Okano as Chief of National Security Secretariat
- 01/07 13:51 Nippon Steel "Will Never Give Up" on U.S. Steel Takeover: CEO
- 01/07 13:47 (Update) Japan, U.S. Foreign Chiefs Meet in Tokyo
- 01/07 13:33 Japan, U.S. Foreign Chiefs Meet in Tokyo
- 01/07 09:17 (Update) N. Korea Claims Successful Launch of New Ballistic Missile
- 01/07 08:06 N. Korea Claims Successful Launch of New Ballistic Missile
- 01/06 21:47 Japan's Annual Average Temperature Hits New High in 2024
- 01/06 20:19 JR Passengers Up 11 Pct in Year-End, New Year Period
- 01/06 19:52 Japan Mulls Aid for Nippon Steel after Biden Blocks Deal
- 01/06 18:45 "Toyoko Kids" Aid Center Wrestling with Challenges
- 01/06 18:35 (Update 2) N. Korea Fires Ballistic Missile at Sea of Japan
- 01/06 18:18 Japan to Allow Youth Shelter Use without Parental Consent
- 01/06 17:55 Ishiba Seeks Explanation for Biden's Decision over U.S. Steel
- 01/06 17:12 2nd Japanese Dies in Bangkok Hotel Fire
- 01/06 15:09 "Shogun" Sweeps TV Drama Categories at Golden Globes
- 01/06 13:41 Wages Hold Key to Japan Economy in 2025
- 01/06 13:29 (Update) North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile toward Sea of Japan
- 01/06 13:08 INTERVIEW: JR Tokai to Let Pet Dogs Enjoy Shinkansen Riding
- 01/06 12:22 North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile toward Sea of Japan
- 01/06 10:34 2 Die after Fishing Boat Capsizes off Japan's Ibaraki
- 01/05 20:17 Japan Develops Method to Break Down PFAS "Forever Chemicals"