Nashville Standard

NASHVILLE, TN—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and former U.S. Ambassador to Japan, recently appeared on The Journal Editorial Report on Fox News to discuss various international topics.

Speaking about the U.S.-Japan Alliance, Senator Hagerty emphasized the importance of the relationship between the two countries, stating, "The relationships that we’ve built with Japan has increasingly strengthened over the years." He highlighted the efforts during his time as Ambassador to lead from a position of strength, particularly in dealing with North Korea and China's aggressions in the region.

Regarding Japan's increased military defense posture, Senator Hagerty noted, "I think it absolutely is [as a result of China]... public sentiment has shifted, and we see a public that is much more receptive to leaning forward from a public national defense standpoint."

Senator Hagerty also shared his experience in assisting the Philippines in countering Communist China, mentioning a past involvement in returning Subic Bay to American ownership. He expressed support for more U.S. engagement in the region and legislation to enhance military cooperation with the Philippines.

On the Biden Administration's opposition to Nippon Steel's acquisition of U.S. Steel, Senator Hagerty commented, "It does warrant great scrutiny... I think it’s going to be very difficult in an election year to get this accomplished."

The discussion on Fox News covered a range of critical international issues, highlighting Senator Hagerty's insights and perspective on the evolving dynamics in the Asia-Pacific region.