US-Japan security talks focus on bolstering military cooperation amid rising China threat

Tokyo, July 28

Japanese and US defence chiefs and top diplomats held talks in Tokyo on Sunday on further bolstering their military cooperation, including by upgrading the command and control of US forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production in Japan, amid a rising threat from China.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin joined their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee, known as “2+2” security talks, to reaffirm their alliance following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the November presidential race.

“We are at a turning point in history as the rules-based, free and open international order is shaken to the core,” Kamikawa said. “Now is a critical phase when our decision today determines our future.”

Austin, in his opening remarks, said China is “engaging in coercive behaviour, trying to change the status quo in the East and South China Seas, around Taiwan and throughout the region,” adding that North Korea’s nuclear programme and its deepening cooperation with Russia “threaten regional and global security”.

Austin said the ministers planned to discuss “historic efforts to modernize” US and Japanese command and control structures, including for US forces in Japan. That would involve upgrading the US command and control system alongside Japan’s ongoing efforts to have a unified command in March.

“It will be one of the most significant developments in the history of our alliance,” Austin said.

Japan is home to more than 50,000 US troops, but a commander for the US Forces Japan headquartered in Yokota in the western suburbs of Tokyo, tasked with managing their bases, has no commanding authority. Instead that comes from the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. The plan to upgrade USFJ’s command and control capability is designed to help smooth joint exercises and operations, officials say.

The ministers were to also discuss enhancing coordination in intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and cybersecurity, areas where Japan needs further improvement to help jointly tackle future threats.

For the first time, the ministers will hold separate talks to reaffirm the US commitment to “extended deterrence,” which includes atomic weapons — a shift from Japan’s earlier reluctance to openly discuss the sensitive issue in the world’s only country to have suffered nuclear attacks — amid growing nuclear threats from Russia and China.

Japan has been accelerating its military buildup and has increased joint operations with the US, as well as with South Korea, while trying to strengthen its largely domestic defense industry.

Japan has significantly eased its arms export restrictions and in December accommodated a US request for shipment of surface-to-air PAC-3 missile interceptors produced in Japan under an American license to replenish US inventories, which have decreased due to its support for Ukraine.

The ministers were expected to discuss increased Japanese production of PAC-3 interceptors for export to the United States, as well as co-production of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles.

Japan and the US have been accelerating arms industry cooperation following an April agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Biden. The two sides have set up working groups for missile co-production and for the maintenance and repair of US Navy ships and Air Force aircraft in the region.

While Japan’s role is largely designed to help US weapons supply and keep its deterrence credible in the Indo-Pacific amid continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Japanese officials say it will help strengthen the Japanese defence industry.

Ahead of the 2+2 talks, Kihara met with Austin and South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik for their first trilateral defence talks hosted by Tokyo and signed a memorandum based on their June agreement in Singapore that institutionalises their regular high-level talks, joint exercises and other exchanges.

Defence officials said the memorandum serves as the basis for future defence cooperation among the three countries despite possible changes in leadership, while showcasing their unity.

“The signing of this memorandum makes our trilateral cooperation unwavering even under changing global environments,” Kihara told reporters.

Kihara also met Shin, who is the first South Korean defence chief to visit Japan in 15 years, and they agreed to take steps to deepen their bilateral defence ties.