With their sights on China, the US and Japan heralded the biggest shift in military alliances in more than half a century.

President Joe Biden and the Prime Minister Fumio Kishida Wednesday marked the biggest advance ever in US-Japan security ties.

Biden rolled out the red carpet for Kishida and treated him to a lavish dinner and music by the famous American singer. Paul SimonIt seeks to underline Japan's importance as an important ally in the Asia-Pacific region against Beijing.

“This is a very significant step forward in our alliance since it was first established,” Biden said at a news conference with Kishida in the White House Rose Garden.

The 81-year-old US president said this Their ties are “unbreakable”. Their agreements on Wednesday set “a new benchmark for our military cooperation”.

Both leaders expressed Plans to reorganize US military command in Japan The biggest such change since the 1960s, when the United States, Japan and Australia were to launch a joint air defense network.

The move is intended to make US and Japanese forces more active in the event of a crisis Chinese invasion of Taiwan.

The upgrade comes amid tensions over Beijing's claims to Taiwan and its large extensions. South China Sea, Despite Washington's efforts to minimize the risk of conflict.

Biden emphasized that the military buildup in China's backyard alliance is “purely defensive” and “not directed toward any particular nation or a threat to the region.”

Meanwhile, Kishida called for “peace and stability” across the Taiwan Strait during a press conference.

But Biden has made no secret of his desire to build alliances across the region to counter China. It will hold its first trilateral summit on Thursday Japan, the Philippines and the United States, with the aim of deepening their alliance.

However, the highlight was the lavish state visit to Kishida Broad cultural and economic ties between the two allies, which went to war 80 years ago.

Biden announced The first non-American to set foot on the moon was JapaneseFlying on an American mission that takes place in a few years.

The leaders also announced agreements on technology, including artificial intelligence and the economy.

The rest of Wednesday will be devoted to a lavish welcome for Kishida, 66, and his wife, Yuko. The state party will be held in the White House's Great East Room, decorated with fans and cherry blossom branches.

White House chefs will serve up dishes with Japanese flavors, starting with house-cured salmon, aged prime rib with wasabi sauce, and salted caramel pistachio pie with cherry ice cream.

After dinner, Paul Simon “He will choose iconic songs,” the White House social secretary told reporters. Carlos Elizondo.

First lady Jill Biden said during a preview of a dinner celebrating the “growing” friendship between the United States and Japan.

“Our countries are partners in a world that chooses creation over destruction, peace over bloodshed, democracy over autocracy,” he said.

Kishida is the first Japanese leader to make a state visit to the United States since Shinzo Abe in 2015, and a fifth world leader after Biden takes office in 2021.

Japan, a staunch pacifist for decades, has made “some significant and consequential changes” since World War II in recent years, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said before the visit.

(With information from AFP)