All national papers except Mainichi wrote that Secretary of State Blinken met remotely with Japanese journalists yesterday and commented on a broad range of topics including U.S.-Japan relations, China, North Korea, nuclear arms control, democracy, and diversity in government. The Secretary said that when meeting with his Chinese counterparts in Alaska, he will convey America’s concerns about the situation around the Senkakus and Taiwan “with clear language.” He reportedly expressed “strong solidarity” with the Japanese people in resolving the abduction issue. The official explained the Biden administration’s commitment to creating a government that reflects the ethnic and gender diversity of American society. The Secretary also stressed the importance of the U.S. and Japan taking the lead in promoting  democracy to counter the rise of autocratic states.