The governments of the United States and Japan have announced a series of measures aimed at strengthening their military ties amid growing aggression from China, The New York Times reports.
Lloyd J. Austin III, US Secretary of Defense, Anthony J. Blinken, US Secretary of State, Yoko Kamikawa, Japanese Foreign Minister, and Minoru Kihara, Japanese Defense Minister, held a press conference in Tokyo to express concern over China’s rapid military build-up.
The new measures include the creation of a joint force headquarters subordinate to the U.S. commander in the Indo-Pacific, as well as increased joint production of air-to-air missiles and air defense interceptors. Anthony Blinken noted that the new headquarters will allow for closer cooperation to ensure greater peace and stability.
These changes are a response to China’s aggressive actions in East Asia, particularly in the East China and South China Seas. In addition, they emphasized the importance of the mutual defense clause in the US-Japan treaty in the face of growing security threats.
U.S. and Japanese officials reaffirmed their strong opposition to China’s attempts to change the status quo through force or coercion. During the 2+2 meeting in Tokyo, they discussed further steps to strengthen the alliance, especially in light of the upcoming changes in the US leadership following President Biden’s announcement of his re-election bid.
Mr. Blinken and Mr. Austin also discussed the deployment of U.S. troops in the region, which remains a key deterrent against possible conflicts with China or North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Biden previously announced increased military cooperation, including Japan’s purchase of 400 Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Further cooperation includes the production of Patriot interceptor missiles, which are being supplied to Ukraine to protect it from Russian attacks. After their visit to Tokyo, Blinken and Austin plan to visit the Philippines to participate in another 2+2 dialog.
Thus, the United States and Japan are taking significant steps to strengthen their military alliance to ensure peace and stability in the region amid growing tensions with China.
