Biden Arriving in Japan Today Amid Escalating Tensions With China Over Uninhabited Islands

Pushing for Pacific trade bloc agreement

Vice President Joseph Biden arrives in Japan today on a trip to demonstrate the American commitment to the Asia-Pacific and defuse tensions over a Chinese air defense zone that drew criticism from the U.S. and its allies.

Biden will seek to push toward an agreement with Japan on the 12-nation Trans Pacific Partnership trade deal during his trip. He then heads to China, where U.S. officials say he will ask leaders to clarify their intent with the zone, and visit South Korea later this week to discussNorth Korea's nuclear program.