WASHINGTON, April 8 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden

hosts the leaders of Japan and the Philippines this week to

boost economic and defense ties as the allies seek to offset

China's growing might and manage risks ranging from North Korea

to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Biden's bilateral summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio

Kishida on Wednesday will bring an upgrade in defense ties with

Japan, Washington's cornerstone ally in the Indo-Pacific region

and an increasingly important global partner.

Kishida, beleaguered at home, will be greeted in the United

States with great fanfare, with Japanese flags already

festooning Washington lampposts and a glittering White House

dinner with some 200 guests.

On Thursday, he will become only the second Japanese leader

to address a joint meeting of Congress after his assassinated

predecessor, Shinzo Abe, gave a speech in 2015.

Political analysts say the visit is a chance for Kishida to

boost dire domestic popularity ratings ahead of a September

leadership contest in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

The U.S. will hail Japan as a vital regional and global ally

and Kishida will be able to bask in praise for defense reforms

that have taken Japan further from its post-war pacifism.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby told

reporters on Monday the three countries had "increasingly

convergent strategic objectives, interests and frankly concerns

in areas like the South China Sea."

"We're going to look to find ways to continue to deepen the

collaboration with our closest partners again to ensure a free

open, prosperous secure Indo-Pacific," Kirby said.

Overshadowing the visit is a controversy over the planned

$15 billion acquisition of American steel maker U.S. Steel

by Japan's Nippon Steel ( NISTF ), a deal some say is "on life

support" after criticism by Biden and Donald Trump, his rival in

November's U.S. election.

Also looming are Japanese concerns that in any second Trump

term he might seek a deal with China that could destabilize the

region.

SUPPORTING THE PHILIPPINES

On Thursday, Biden holds a bilateral meeting with

Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos, whom he welcomed in

Washington just last year, before the two join Kishida for a

trilateral summit expected to focus on countering Chinese

pressure on the Philippines in the disputed South China Sea.

"Close cooperation between Japan, the U.S., and the

Philippines is crucial for a free and open order based on the

rule of law and for economic prosperity in the region," Kishida

said on Friday.

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel said on Monday China

was constantly using "coercion" and pressure on countries

including Japan and the Philippines, and his counterpart,

Japan's ambassador to the U.S., Shigeo Yamada, said the overall

approach to Beijing would be among the issues discussed.

Yamada told the same think tank event Kishida would

emphasize to the U.S. Congress that Japan is ready to work

collaboratively on global issues. He said Japan would continue

to support Ukraine's efforts to defend itself and keep its

economy going - another issue the leaders could discuss.

U.S.-JAPAN MILITARY COORDINATION

With concerns that Russia's Ukraine invasion might embolden

Beijing to move against Taiwan, a strategic self-ruled island

that produces the world's most advanced semiconductors, the

leaders are expected to discuss plans to upgrade the U.S.

military command structure in Japan to make it better able to

work with Japanese forces in a crisis.

Biden and Kishida are also expected to announce steps to

allow more joint development of military and defense equipment,

Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said last week.

Under Kishida, Japan has pledged to double defense spending

to 2% of gross domestic product, which could make it the world's

third-biggest military spender. Its plans include acquiring

hundreds of cruise missiles that can strike targets 1,000 km

(620 miles) away.

Japan has also become important to the U.S. as a potential

production base for munitions, including Patriot PAC3

anti-missile systems that will be re-exported to Ukraine, and

for its shipyards.

The Biden-Kishida summit is expected to address Japan's

future involvement in the three-way AUKUS defense pact between

Australia, Britain and the United States, but officials and

experts say obstacles remain given a need for Japan to introduce

better cyber defenses and stricter rules for guarding secrets.

Britain, the United States and Australia said in a joint

statement on Monday they are considering working with Japan on

advanced capability projects in AUKUS and Britain said talks

between the partners and other nations, including Japan, would

start this year.

Japan last year delivered air defense radars to the

Philippines and is negotiating a reciprocal-access agreement

that would make it easier for Japanese troops to train there.

U.S. officials emphasize interactions with the Philippines

will cover more than defense, with "consequential" outcomes in

energy and economic security.

"It's a really important moment for us to hear from the

Philippines about what kinds of support may be most useful," a

senior U.S. administration official told Reuters.

Amid the Nippon Steel ( NISTF ) controversy, U.S. officials aim to

highlight other Japanese investment in the U.S. Deals in

artificial intelligence, cloud computing, aviation and

construction will contribute "to good-paying, strong American

jobs," the U.S. official said.

Space is another focus, with Japan hoping to land its first

astronaut on the moon with the U.S. Artemis project that

envisages returning humans there by 2026, as competition with

Russia and China intensifies.