Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited Japan and called the country an “indispensable partner” in deterring Chinese aggression. He announced plans to upgrade the U.S. military command in Japan to a new “war-fighting headquarters” to strengthen joint operations. Hegseth emphasized the need for Japan and the U.S. to enhance their military capabilities in response to China’s assertive actions in the region.
The two countries agreed to work together to develop and produce missiles to address a shortage of munitions and to accelerate maintenance processes of U.S. warships and warplanes in Japan. They also decided to upgrade the command and control of their respective military forces to improve joint operational capabilities.
Hegseth stated that the reorganization of U.S. troops is necessary to better prepare for potential conflicts in the region. Both countries are committed to promoting peace but must be prepared for any contingencies that may arise.
Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani also discussed the need to strengthen Japan’s defense posture on the Southwestern islands near Taiwan and the East China Sea to enhance deterrence against China. They emphasized the importance of maintaining credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, including across the Taiwan Strait.
Overall, the meetings between Hegseth and Nakatani highlighted the ongoing efforts to strengthen the defense cooperation between Japan and the U.S. in response to growing Chinese assertiveness in the region. Hegseth’s visit to Japan is part of his Asia trip, during which he also discussed enhancing ties with the Philippines in the face of maritime disputes with China.
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