In face of Chinese aggression, US augments ties with ‘indispensible’ Japan

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called Japan on Sunday an “indispensable partner” in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region and announced upgrading the US military command in Japan to a new “war-fighting headquarters.”

Hegseth, who is on his first Asia trip with Japan as his second stop, also stressed the need for both countries to do more to accelerate the strengthening of their military capability as the region faces China’s assertive military actions and a possible Taiwan emergency.

“Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth said at the beginning of his talks with Japan’s Defence Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo.

His comments come as an assurance at a time when Japan has been worried about how US engagement in the region may change under President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, Japanese defence officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing protocol.

Trump has also threatened to impose trade tariffs on Japan, a key US ally, sparking more concern.

The two sides agreed to accelerate plans to jointly develop and produce missiles such as Advanced Medium-Range Air to Air Missiles, or MRAAM, and consider producing SM-6 surface-to-air missiles, to help ease a shortage of munitions, Nakatani said.

The ministers also agreed to speed up the process involving the maintenance of US warships and warplanes in Japan to strengthen and complement Japanese and US defence industries.

Japan and the US decided in July to upgrade the command and control of the Japanese military as well as US forces in the East Asian country, under the Biden administration, a major structural change aimed at bolstering joint operational and response capabilities. Japan is home to more than 50,000 US troops.

Tokyo last week launched the Japan Joint Operations Command, or JJOC, whose mission is to coordinate Japanese Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defence Forces, in a significant action to further strengthen capabilities to respond to contingencies and better cooperate with the US.

Hegseth announced on Sunday the upgrading of its current command, US Forces Japan, by placing a unified operational commander to function as a joint force headquarters to liaise with its Japanese counterpart to serve as “war-fighting headquarters” to bolster speed and capability of their troops’ joint operations.