Nikkei claimed that the Biden administration is set to nominate Rahm Emanuel, former chief of staff to President Obama, as U.S. ambassador to Japan. The paper wrote that the United States plans to appoint a political heavyweight as ambassador to Japan in view of the need for close cooperation with Japan in responding to China. The daily noted that Emanuel played a key role in enacting the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The paper added that as mayor of Chicago Emanuel visited Japan in July 2018 to seek investment from Japan and that he is close to both President Biden and Secretary of State Blinken.

Sankei also reported on the likely appointment of Emanuel as the next U.S. envoy to Japan, speculating that the selection of such a “sharp” person to the post demonstrates the Biden administration’s attachment of importance to Japan in its competition with China.