Defense - USA and Japan strengthen security cooperation
The USA and Japan aim to strengthen their security cooperation in the face of threats from China and North Korea. Both sides agreed on this during a meeting between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Kihara Minoru in Tokyo.
According to a joint statement, the ministers reaffirmed the significance of the US-Japan alliance as a pillar for peace, security, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. The core of the decisions is therefore the establishment of a joint military headquarters in Japan to facilitate cooperation between US and Japanese forces.
Blinken and Austin also reaffirmed the US commitment to extended deterrence towards Japan, as stated in the press release. Extended deterrence refers to the "full range" of US military capabilities for the defense of South Korea - including nuclear weapons.
The agreements are a response to increasing threats in the region, it was further stated. China's foreign policy aims to change the international order to its own advantage and at the expense of others. Increasing demonstrations of Chinese power in the East and South China Seas, as well as the rapid expansion of its nuclear arsenal, are causes for "serious concern". The ministers criticized China's nuclear and missile program as well as its growing cooperation with Russia and North Korea.
- During their meeting in Tokyo, US Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed the escalating threats from both China and North Korea with their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Kihara Minoru.
- Following the meeting, Blinken and Austin reiterated the United States of America's commitment to maintaining a military presence in Japan, which is crucial for joint conflicts and ensuring the security of Japan.
- The establishment of a joint military headquarters in Japan, as per the agreements, will notably enhance cooperation between the US and Japanese forces, particularly in response to the serious threats posed by North Korea and China.
- Lloyd Austin underscored the significance of the US's extended deterrence strategy, emphasizing that this involves deploying a "full range" of military capabilities to protect not only Japan but also its allies, such as South Korea, from potential threats.
- In response to the growing concerns over China's influence, Minister Yoko Kamikawa expressed the Japanese government's concerns about China's nuclear and missile program, as well as its expanding cooperation with both Russia and North Korea.
- While in Tokyo, Blinken and Austin criticized China's aggressive foreign policy, which seeks to alter the international order to China's advantage, stating that it poses a significant threat to the peace, security, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
