On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo hailed new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga as a “force for good” and said that he has faith on Suga. He also added that USA is looking forward to see Suga work to strengthen the relationship between Washington and Tokyo.

In a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi in Tokyo, Pompeo at the starting said that he agreed with Suga that a free and open Indo-Pacific was the foundation of regional peace and stability.

“Prime Minister Suga is a powerful force for good,” Pompeo said. He further added that the United States has every reason to believe that Suga will strengthen the enduring US-Japan alliance in his new role.

Pompeo is scheduled to meet Suga later in the day as he is in Japan for the Quad group meeting of foreign ministers from the United States, Japan, Australia and India.

The Japanese leader finds the task of balancing the need to maintain working ties with Japan’s bigger neighbour China and the demands of U.S. for a tougher stance.

This is Pompeo’s first visit to East Asia since July 2019. His visit to Japan appears at a time when the ties between the United States and strategic rival China are at their worst in decades. The Quad meeting is crucial to observe now as Washington looks to thicken its support among Asian collaborators against Beijing.

As Donald Trump tested positive for coronavirus and was hospitalized, Pompeo decided to shorten his trip to a full day in Japan after visits to South Korea. Trump returned to the White House after a three-night hospital stay to be treated for the virus.

The world’s top two economies, Washington and Beijing, seem to fight over a wide range of issues from the way Beijing handles the coronavirus to its imposition of new security law in Hong Kong and its overt ambitions in South China Sea.

Washington’s tough stand towards China has pleased the most Asian collaborators who are at odds with China. So as not to ruffle the fragile relations with China, the countries around the South China Sea have not so eagerly welcomed Trump and Pompeo’s highly charged recent rhetoric and have remained wary of going too far in offending China.

At Joint Base Andrews in the United States before departing for Tokyo, Pompeo stated that the US is hoping to have some significant announcements and significant achievements, but he declined to say what they would be.

China has condemned the Quad as an attempt to contain its development. While the Quad meeting is not expected to generate a specific action plan, the motive of its gathering would serve as a warning to China and play to its fears that it might one day grow into a formalized grouping as NATO as opined by experts.

Officials involved in preparation for the meeting said that the agenda for the Quad Meeting is likely to include economic recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic, supply chains, disinformation, critical minerals, infrastructure investment in the region and counter-terrorism.

It is not expected to issue a joint communique, because the quad is not considered as a formal alliance, but foreign ministers are expected to release separate statements after the meeting.

Indian foreign Ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava stated that the foreign ministers are likely to emphasize their support for a free and open Indo-Pacific region at the meeting.

At the U.S. Ambassador’s Residence in Tokyo, Pompeo met with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Tuesday.  The duo posed in front of their respective flags sporting face masks and with no handshake.