Tokyo-The Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth called Japan on Sunday an “indispensable partner” by deterring the growing Chinese assertiveness in the region and announced the improvement of the US military command in Japan to a new “headquarters of war struggle.”
Hegesh, who is on his first trip of Asia with Japan as his second stop, also emphasized the need for both countries to make more to accelerate the strengthening of their military capacity as the region faces the assertive military actions of China and a possible emergency of Taiwan.
“Japan is our indispensable partner to deter Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth said at the beginning of his conversations with Japanese Minister of Japanese Gen Nakatani in Tokyo. “The United States is moving fast, as you know, to restore deterrence in this region and worldwide.”
His comments are ensured at a time when Japan has been concerned about how the commitment of the United States in the region can change under the “First America” policy of President Donald Trump, Japanese defense officials said, speaking under condition of anonymity, citing the protocol. Trump has also threatened to impose commercial tariffs on Japan, a key ally of the United States, raising more concern.
The two parts agreed to accelerate the plans to develop together and produce missiles such as the advanced air of medium range to air missiles, or Mraam, and consider producing SM-6 missiles of air surface, to help relieve a shortage of ammunition, Nakatani said. The ministers also agreed to accelerate the process that involves the maintenance of US warships and war planes in Japan to strengthen and complement the Japanese and American defense industries.
Japan and the United States decided in July to update the command and control of Japanese and American military forces in the country of Oriental Asia, under the Biden administration, an important structural change intended to reinforce joint operational and response capacities. Japan is home to more than 50,000 American troops.
Last week, Tokyo launched the Japan Japan Operations Command, or JJOC, whose mission is to coordinate Japanese land, maritime and aerial forces in a significant action to further strengthen the capacities to respond to contingencies and better cooperate with the United States.
Hegseth announced on Sunday the improvement of his current command, the US forces of Japan, placing a unified operational commander to function as a joint force headquarters to settle with his Japanese counterpart to serve as “headquarters to fight war” to reinforce the speed and capacity of the joint operations of his troops.
The head of the Pentagon said that the reorganization of US troops is a step to prepare better for a possible conflict. The United States and Japan work for peace, but “we must be prepared,” he said.
Japanese defense officials say they do not expect significant change in their responsibilities or an increase in US troops in Japan.
Hegesh and Nakatani told a joint press conference that they also agreed to reinforce Japan’s defense position in the Southwest Islands, which are in critical locations throughout areas in dispute in the Eastern China Sea and near Taiwan to further intensify the deterrence against China.
He emphasized the need to have “sustained, robust, list and credible deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific, even throughout the Taiwan Strait, since “Japan would be on the first line of any contingency that we could face in the Western Pacific.”
China claims Taiwan as its own territory. The United States is obliged under a 1979 law to provide Taiwan enough hardware and military technology to deter the invasion, and its sales of arms to Taiwan have always attracted a strong opposition from Beijing.
On Saturday, Hegesh joined the American-Japan joint monument to honor the dead of war in the battle of Iwo Jima while marking the 80th anniversary of the end of one of the most fierce battles of World War II, praising the strong alliance between the ancient enemies.
Before landing in Japan, Hegesh stopped in the Philippines, where he also secured Trump’s commitment to intensify ties with the country of Southeast Asia that faces maritime disputes with Beijing.
