Japan’s new foreign minister announced that his country plans to demonstrate its determination to further strengthen its defense in order to rapidly adapt to changing warfare realities and growing tensions in the region.
The announcement comes as President Donald Trump plans to visit Tokyo next week. The Associated Press reported that the president is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, who took office this week, marking the first time a woman has been elected to the position.
Takaichi has her work cut out for her as she faces two major diplomatic events right after securing the top post: President Trump and two regional summits. “We are firmly preparing for President Trump’s visit,” Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi said.
The foreign minister stated that he hopes President Trump’s first meeting with Takaichi will serve as an opportunity for both leaders to discuss ways to further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance while fostering their personal relationship of trust.
Motegi commented that Japan is also hoping to extend further cooperation with South Korea, along with Australia and the Philippines, while seeking stable and constructive relations with China. Reports from the AP indicate that the country is currently undergoing a five-year military build-up plan, which is scheduled to conclude in 2027.
As part of the build-up, Japan is allegedly doubling its annual defense spending to 2% of gross domestic product. The strategy that promotes Japan’s strike-back capability with long-range missiles marks a major break from Japan’s defense-only principle under its postwar pacifist constitution.
Japan’s current ruling party, the right-wing Japan Innovation Party, which replaced the more centrist Komeito party, has allegedly raised concerns that a revised strategy may involve further offensive roles for Japan under Takaichi. Motegi stated that further strengthening its military capability is essential in order to adapt to emerging new warfare, such as drone swarms, in the war against Ukraine, as well as responses to cyberattacks.
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“We hope to firmly convey our plans to the U.S. side,” Motegi said. Despite the warm welcome set to greet President Trump during his visit, Japan is bracing itself for a laundry list of demands from the U.S. president.
Chief among these is for Japan to increase its defense spending to NATO levels of 5% of GDP, more purchases of costly American arsenals, and additional spending for some 50,000 U.S. troops in Japan under the bilateral security pact. “Our national defense should be based on our own independent decision,” Motegi said.
“What’s important is not the amount or the GDP ratio but what’s in it,” he added. Motegi also expressed a desire to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the earliest opportunity to discuss further strengthening the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance.
He said he hoped to work toward “sincere and steady implementation of the agreement” to promote and ensure mutual benefits, economic security and growth.”
AloJapan.com