US and Japan announce new military agreements aimed at countering China

Joe Biden and Fumio Kishida, the Japanese prime minister, have announced a new era of military cooperation during the pomp and pageantry of a White House state visit aimed at countering China. The US president said the two nations' forces will cooperate on a joint command structure and, along with Australia, develop a new air missile defence network. "We're increasing the interoperability and planning of our militaries so they can work together in a seamless and effective way," Biden said at a joint press conference with Kishida in the bright sunshine of the White House Rose Garden on Wednesday. "This…