U.S. Urges Japan to Appoint Humanitarian Task Force Reps Amid Climate Change Concerns

The United States is urging Japan to appoint representatives for a joint task force aimed at establishing a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief hub. This initiative follows a commitment made by U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, amid concerns over climate change and regional conflicts.

The United States on Wednesday called on Japan to name its representatives for a joint task force to determine the location and resources for a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief hub they have agreed to establish in Japan. In letters seen by Reuters on Thursday, U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel urged Japan's foreign and defense ministers, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, to provide the names of four Japanese officials at their "earliest convenience" and to propose a date for the first task force meeting.

Emanuel stated that climate change is causing increasingly severe devastation worldwide. He noted that emergency supplies at the hub could also be used to assist civilians displaced by regional conflicts, including potential unrest in Asia. The commitment by U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to establish the facility came amid growing concerns over Chinese military drills around Taiwan.

In his letter, Emanuel indicated that he, along with Lieutenant General Roger Turner, the U.S. Marine Corp commander in Japan, Colonel Patrick Biggs, U.S. Army Corp of Engineers chief, and regional USAID head Heath Cosgrove, would represent the United States on the task force. A spokesperson for Japan's Ministry of Defense acknowledged receipt of Emanuel's letter but said no decisions had been made yet regarding the Japanese representatives. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

(With inputs from agencies.)