New Japanese PM Has First Calls With American, Australian Leaders

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks during a news conference at the prime minister's official residence in Tokyo on Oct. 04, 2021, which was his first day in office. Toru Hanai/Pool/Getty Images

Fumio Kishida, Japan’s new prime minister, made his first calls with heads of the United States and Australia on Oct. 5. Experts say he will continue a pro-U.S. and anti-China approach during his tenure.

Kishida had a roughly 20-minute conversation with President Joe Biden, the first with a foreign leader since taking office one day before.