US, Japan to Announce Plans to Send Japanese Astronaut to Moon.

The US and Japan are set to announce plans for a Japanese astronaut to join a NASA lunar mission, making them the first non-American to do so. The announcement is expected to be made during Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's visit to Washington, signaling stronger economic and defense ties between the two nations and competing with China in the race to the moon. This move follows the Biden administration's success in space diplomacy, including collaborations with India and the signing of the Artemis Accords. China, on the other hand, is seeking support for a research base on the moon but has had limited success in gaining commitments. [Extracted from the article]