Hegseth calls Japan indispensable in the face of Chinese aggression

U.S. Defense Secretary strengthens military ties with Japan to deter Chinese aggression, emphasizing readiness and cooperation.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called Japan on Sunday an "indispensable partner" in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region and announced upgrading the U.S. military command in Japan to a new "war-fighting headquarters."

Mr. 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.

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“Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,” Mr. Hegseth said at the beginning of his talks with Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani in Tokyo. "The U.S. is moving fast, as you know, to reestablish deterrence in this region and around the world."

His comments come as an assurance at a time when Japan has been worried about how U.S. engagement in the region may change under President Donald Trump's “America First” policy, Japanese defense officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity, citing protocol. Trump has also threatened to impose trade tariffs on Japan, a key U.S. 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, Mr. Nakatani said. The ministers also agreed to speed up the process involving the maintenance of U.S. warships and warplanes in Japan to strengthen and complement Japanese and U.S. defense industries.

Japan and the U.S. decided in July to upgrade the command and control of the Japanese military as well as U.S. 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 U.S. troops.