China accuses U.S. and Japan of "reckless harm"

China topped the agenda in the joint statement made by Biden and Suga on Friday (April 16). The two leaders made specific mention of maintaining a "peaceful" Taiwan Strait, and that they were "committed to working together to take on challenges from China".

Suga's visit to Washington - Biden's first in-person meeting with a foreign leader as president - came just days after China sent 25 aircraft, including fighters and nuclear-capable bombers, near Taiwan, which Beijing considers a wayward province.