Youre in the cnn newsroom. Im wolf blitzer in washington happening this hour over at the white house. President joe biden and japanese Prime MinisterFumio Kishida are sitting down for a bilateral meeting in the oval office, and that will be followed by a joint News Conference early this afternoon. Officials say that to liters will announce a list of defense and diplomatic agreements to strengthen ties. Cnns Arlette Saenz is joining us live from the white house right now, or what is President Biden want to achieve . During this important summit . Well, well, if President Biden is trying to showcase the close relationship with japan and the countrys Prime Minister in the indopacific as they are looking to blunt chinas rise. Now, President Biden a short while ago welcomed the Prime Minister here at the white house for the full pomp and circumstance of that arrival ceremony. The two men walking, reviewing the troops, and also they both delivered remarks present so then biden hailing the partnership with japan as a monumental alliance, saying that their strength has really been a highlight of their Alliance Building in the region. Take a listen to what he had to say. President eisenhower said, his goal was to establish an indestructible partnership between our countries today the world can see that goal has been achieved and that partnership between us is unbreakable no precedent noted that japan has really been at the cornerstone of so much of the administrations efforts to rebuild these alliances in the indopacific, but also theyve seen a eerie willing partner in because shiga, from the fact that he has offered so much support to ukraine amid russias invasion of that country. Now the president , and because she had are right now are needing a bilateral meeting and theyre expected to outline a host of announcements on several fronts, including really trying to deepen the defense and security ties between the two country, announcing new steps when it comes to space as japan has signaled that they would like to land and austria astronaut on the moon, theres also people, two people ties, steepening of Semiconductor Production together. All of th really encapsulating the view that the us views japan as one of its strongest allies. Now there are some areas differences. We know that the president has oppose the sale of us steel to japan. Officials say that that he dont expect that to come up in discussions at this relationship is much larger than one commercial deal. But i also want to note one significant symbolic announcement that was made by President Biden and kush chita, japan provided a Cherry Blossom trees to the United States back in the 20th century. Some of those trees, which many visitors come to Washington Dc to visit in the spring time. Some of those trees have to be cut down and japan has offered to provide new saplings of those trees, really stressing the symbolism of between the two countries because she does saying that the Cherry Blossom like relationship of the United States it is on display. So we are expecting to see them in just a few hours again in that meeting, but also at a joint News Conference and then tonight, the white house is hosting that lavish state dinners. Theyre trying to honor one of their closest allies we all love those Cherry Blossoms here in washington. Arlette saenz over the white house. Thank you very much. I want to bring his sentence, Hanako Montgomery right now. Shes joining us live from tokyo or hanako, what is japans Prime Minister want to achieve during this historic visit with president by yeah well if i think she does really looking to emphasize his relationship and how strong is relationship is with us President Joe Biden at this bilateral meeting. Now, because she looks to do this primarily through the Defense Sector under kishida is leadership. Weve already seen japan bolster for its defense capabilities to levels we havent seen since world war ii during our interview with the japanese Prime Minister on sunday ahead of his visit to washington, i asked him about this Policy Change and some of the security challenges that japan was facing. This is what he told me hi kate, you work when you in our neighborhood, there are countries that are developing Ballistic Missiles and nuclear weapons. And others that are building up their defense capabilities in an opaque way. Also, there is a unilateral attempt to change the status quo by force in both the east its trying to sea and South China Sea now, to combat these growing geopolitical tensions, a senior Us Government official tells me that japan and the United States will announce a joint Defense Counsel which will look to coproduce and codevelop military exports. Weve already seen under kishidas leadership, japan decide to export American Design patriot missiles to the United States that were made in japan. So this move is really an expansion of that the senior Government Official also tells me that because cheetah and biden will announce a joint Operations Command in japan, which of course is a move that the United States has long pursued right now, joined operations of us personnel in japan are directed by endofpacket com, which is headquartered in hawaii. So with this move, it would make it much, much easier to coordinate Military Operations at a real time pace. Wolf, and of course this will all culminates in japan becoming more of a Global Partner rather than just a regional player. Im Gonna Go Montgomery In Tokyo for us, hanukkah. Thank you very, very much. Want to talk about the wider implications of this summit between the United States and japan are chief National Security analysts, jim sciutto as joining me right now. Hes got an important, very important new book that has just come out of brooches. This very subject. Its called various either cover the return of great p powers boris, russia china, and the next world war. Its a New York Times bestseller, right now, important reading for all of us. Give us some perspective on the summit. Thats taking place at the white house right now. This is all about china a rising china also north korea, to, to some degree, and the shared us and japanese concern about that but and a strategic decision by the us and japan and also other us allies in the region south korea, australia, to bring their alliance closer in military terms. In military industrial terms, building up supplies and so on, Defense Terms i look at it this way. Youve got china that is rapidly expanding its nuclear arsenal. Its Missile Arsenal north korea is also a Nuclear Power also expanding that japan is very close to that threat. It sees a direct threat and it calculates it needs more us support to defend itself against those threats. Isnt going to go. It will it is. And thats part of the agreement here. Its not just a show of force of them together, but its also expanding the us Defense Agreement, making very clear to japan that the us will continue to defend it against jet, chinese and japanese missiles in the event of conflict here. But also the us showing influence in the region you saw. Hanako mentioned the threat to the South China Sea and the East China Sea because china has already been active there, its all already made a huge land grab in the South China Sea with these manmade islands. So all those things are threat to japans security. And its trade as well. And it wants to improve its defenses. And by the way, by also expanding its own military resources. And you should know were about to get the tape of the Opening Statements from the Prime Minister and the president in the oval office theyre just sitting down for their meeting and once we get that table, well play it for our viewers. Lets see what both of these leaders have to say. Yeah, youve done a lot of reporting from china however, the chinese likely to view this summit between the us and japan. They will, i think its fairly likely youll, youll see commentary from them, possibly from the Foreign Ministry spokesperson or even in their ccp newspapers, that is talking about this being antagonistic in some way are hostile to chinese interests that china will reaffirm that it wants peace in the region et cetera. So they will look at it to some degree as a threat, not a surprising one. The us has had a decades long mutual Defense Agreement with japan, as has south korea, the us, of course, has troops based in japan as it does in south korea, but it is also expanding those alliances now, and china sees that as a wrecked response to its rise and a direct threat to its interests in the region, by the way, its interesting, its not just the us that is improving relations with japan and alliances. You see a lot of european nations that have been creating agreements and so on, which is interesting because europe, though its further away, looks at china as a threat as well very quickly north korea is looking at all of this as well. And certainly north korea subject that the president and the Prime Minister, well be discussing. Absolutely and look back to what the camp david, if you remember the Camp David Summit Last Summer between the us, japan, and south korea. All three of those countries look not just to china, but certainly the north korean, of course, south korea is much closer to the north, north korean threat. So north korea will look at this as further antagonism from the west and its allies and as a challenge to its leadership. But again, one that is, lets be frank decadesold us forces have been in south korea virtually since, well, since the 1950s japans its tonight. This is it is 41 thing. I think we should note is that in november, there is an enormous choice for American Voters in terms of how the us views these alliances because for my book, i spoke to several of trumps former senior advisers and they say that not only is he less interested, less committed to the nato military alliance, we talk about that frequently but that he does not have the same commitment to the us military alliances with japan or south korea and might very well reduce them or eliminate heres the tape now of the president and the Prime Minister in the oval office. I just moments ago, were just getting the tape in from the white house right now. Lets listen them we were here last year. We said the role being played by the United States and japan is itd even greater i couldnt agree more with your assertion back and what we see in our joint support for ukraine will face of russias vicious assault was just outrageous going to have and i stick this applicant you just for my message for state that i go today. She we see it no are trilateral relationship with south korea not that you dont want it sticking out curio we see in our economic investments, which has helped generate all these issues and thats already personally made all as possible. Its already know how to do . Annuity put it i got can only my staff and i would assert our alliance has never been stronger. Our entire history to stay alive today, dont big joke has night what youre gonna cover today and cooperation across the board so stick kill boy. Yeah. Youre good now or those that about methodical can see the good answer, know how much in standing together . Do you go to meetings . And then that endocrine get a nice dosage . True partner and a good friend. Thank you for april, we need to pick the study, design is anymore whether to stay seated and otherwise she know either the kids console well, jill, thank you so much for those very kind words of welcome. And i am a very grateful to be invited to the United States and for this official visit julia, julia. So how many got over there . Yes or no . I can get my life. You get you going. I are sincerely grateful for the warm hospitality, extended advise. You and dr. Biden giotto causing cargill sweet you to use your see can my so you of course. Up until now, joe, you and i, we have had countless dialogues and we have nurtured of friendship and a trust along the way. Japan and the United States are now at the forefront in maintaining and strengthening a free and open International Order are based on the rule of law, and as anybody i said, i do okay. To just looks at day. So suppose its taking a case, i time any color equal guy, no you dont america to keep Cartoony Pseudo total modi. The older adult now you. Guys soon shown like you try to set do this official visit. I look forward to confirm demonstrate at home and abroad how japan and us hurley put together will build a future as Global Partners at those, Okay Sneak Has Homozygous at again, i thank you for your warm hospitality. Thank you wind all right. So reporters are shutting a few questions were told that there will be a separate cameras video of maybe the president answering your question about whats going on with israel and gaza will listen to that and well play it for you once we get that separate video tape as well. Jim sciutto is still with me. Are alliance the president said the alliance between the United States and japan has never been stronger in our entire history. Listed. These things are about public messaging, right . To see the leaders of these two countries next to each other. But at the root of it is a very genuine about the rise of china the Military Threat from china to japan, but also us interests in the region, as well as north korea. And not just from a military perspective, but also from a trade perspective. And you heard the president referenced that by saying you know, japan wants open shipping lanes, et cetera. This is important to their trade. Its of course important to us trade the us frequently makes the argument. Its important to chinas trade as well to have those sea lanes open so they see a dual threat military and trade, and theyre trying to message that the us and japan are very close. The trouble is a new president in the fall just based on trumps vision of the world, would have a very different view of that alliance that he said this publicly he attempted to reduce us troops, for instance, in south korea during his last term, ill just tell you what, what john kelly, his former Chief Of Staff, told me in the book, he said the point is he speaking of trump. So i know point nato. He was just dead set against having troops in south korea, again, a deterrent force, or having troops in japan a deterrent forced that would be a remarkable switch for a us president to reduce or even eliminate those alliances. Whereas you have biden, expanding them, it fits into trumps skepticism about the importance of the nato Hundred Miles as well. And this is an alliance with japan. Its been going on in soso significant right now, jim, thank you very much. Jim sciutto. And once again, his new book, the return of great powers, various viet, russia, china, and the next world war is available right now. Its out there on bookshelves. You can go check it out. Its a must read. I must say that and as i pointed out earlier, its already in New York Times bestseller congratulate places you. Thank you, sir. Im that welldeserved. Still ahead this hour. Another associate of the former president , donald trump heading to jail. The sentence for former Trump Organization executive Alan Weisselberg. We have detailed plus theres Breaking News out of gaza hamas indicates, now it does not repeat, not have and can i find 40 hostages who are part of a key demand from israel will have a live report. This is an news. Stay with us your live here in the cnn newsroom im caitlin poland in washington. And this is cnn with priceline vip family. You can unlock deals five times faster. You dont even have to be an actual family. Id be the dad on the day he physically its clear that im the dad. Okay. So which data is pain your thumb choose only lost a month but last 12 weeks, nearly three times longer and longer only brief protect from flea