Japan, US agree to more cooperation

Tokyo and Washington yesterday agreed to boost joint production of defense equipment, including missiles, and expand their military presence in waters southwest of Japan, as China ramps up pressure on its Asian neighbor.

The agreement came after Japanese Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi met US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington, where they also pledged further cooperation on supply chains including critical minerals.

Japan is embroiled in a heated diplomatic spat with China, triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s suggestion last year that Japan could intervene militarily if China attacks Taiwan.

Photo: AP

China reacted angrily, blocking exports to Japan of “dual-use” items with potential military applications, fueling worries in Tokyo that Beijing could choke supplies of much-needed rare earths.

As the “security environment is rapidly growing severe” in Asia, “the two ministers confirmed the Japan-US alliance remains absolutely unwavering,” the Japanese Ministry of Defense said.

The two countries also agreed to further advance joint production of air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air interceptors, and work on the expansion of “more sophisticated and practical joint drills in various locations including the southwest region,” it said.

Beefing up defense around the so-called “southwest” region, which includes areas such as Okinawa, is one of Japan’s top priorities.

Okinawa, home to the vast majority of US military bases in Japan, serves as a key US outpost to monitor China, the Taiwan Strait and the Korean Peninsula, with Tokyo and Washington stressing its strategic importance.

Tokyo has also been increasing its military budget, including last month, when the government approved a record ￥9 trillion (US$57 billion) in defense spending for the upcoming fiscal year.

Hegseth praised Japan for that effort, calling it “hard-nosed realism; practical, common-sense approach that puts both of our vital national interests together,” according to the US Department of War, recently rebranded from the Department of Defense.