The 2 leaders will collect in Washington in what would be the U.S. president’s first in-person summit with a overseas chief since his January inauguration. The assembly comes because the U.S. seeks to problem China on points starting from human rights to unfair commerce practices.

“Rebuilding US alliances and competing with China are the core of Biden’s overseas coverage. The in-person assembly with Suga alerts that Japan is a linchpin of each efforts,” Jonathan Wooden, director and lead U.S. analyst at consultancy Management Dangers, instructed CNBC in an e mail.

One potential end result of the summit is an infrastructure plan specializing in high-quality tasks comparable to high-speed 5G web and clear vitality, Nikkei Asia reported final week.

Such a U.S.-Japan infrastructure cooperation may rival China’s huge Belt and Street Initiative, the report mentioned.

The Belt and Street Initiative is China’s formidable program to construct bodily and digital infrastructure that connects tons of of nations from Asia to the Center East, Africa and Europe. Many critics take into account it Chinese language President Xi Jinping’s signature overseas coverage to increase his nation’s world affect.

“Establishing an alternative choice to China’s Belt and Street Initiative is vital to Biden’s total overseas coverage agenda within the Indo-Pacific,” Neil Thomas, an analyst in danger consultancy Eurasia Group, instructed CNBC by way of e mail.

“That is as a result of one of the best ways for Washington to compete with Beijing’s financial affect within the Indo-Pacific is to supply a extra engaging growth choice to international locations within the area,” he added.

Even earlier than he was elected as president, Biden had criticized China for financing soiled fossil gas tasks by way of the Belt and Street Initiative. He introduced up the opportunity of working with allies to supply different sources of financing for lower-carbon vitality tasks.   

Japan is a vital U.S. ally in Asia, the place Chinese language affect has grown over the previous couple of years.

The Biden administration has prioritized Japan in its diplomatic actions in Asia-Pacific.

Final month, Biden met just about with leaders of the so-called Quad alliance, of which Japan is a member. Some analysts mentioned the casual strategic alliance — which incorporates the U.S., Australia and India — may very well be a option to counter China’s affect.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin additionally visited Tokyo to fulfill with their Japanese counterparts final month.

However Japan treads a effective line between the U.S. — its principal safety associate, and China — its largest financial associate. And the potential for the U.S. and Japan to change into nearer just isn’t misplaced on Beijing.

Final week, China’s State Councilor and Overseas Minister Wang Yi instructed his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi in a telephone name that “Japan ought to view China’s growth with a extra constructive mentality.”   

Previous to Wang’s remarks, Beijing criticized the U.S.-Japan joint assertion issued throughout Blinken and Austin’s go to to Tokyo. The assertion raised considerations about Chinese language conduct in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and the South China Sea that was “inconsistent with the prevailing worldwide order.”

Beijing shot again, saying the assertion “maliciously assaults” China’s overseas coverage and “flagrantly interferes” with its home affairs.

For Japan, “balancing between the US and China proper now requires a exact understanding of the intention and scope of US measures,” mentioned Wooden of Management Dangers.

Eurasia Group’s Thomas mentioned Japan would cease wanting supporting U.S. place on human rights points and insurance policies to selectively “decouple” from the Chinese language financial system.