US to reorganise military forces in Japan
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, Japan’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Yoko Kamikawa and Japan’s Minister of Defence Minoru Kihara pose for Japan-US ‘2+2’ Security Consultative Committee (SCC) meeting at Ikura Guest House of the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo, Japan, on July 28, 2024. Photo Anadolu Agency
The United States will restructure its military forces in Japan to enhance coordination within their bilateral alliance and explore expanded co-production of air defence missiles, according to local media reports on Sunday.
This decision emerged from "two-plus-two" security talks in Tokyo between the foreign and defence chiefs of both nations, prompted by China's increasing regional assertiveness and North Korea's nuclear threat, Kyodo News reported.
The meeting involved Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Defence Minister Minoru Kihara, and their visiting US counterparts, Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin. It was followed by the first-ever ministerial talks on extended deterrence, which includes the US nuclear protection provided to Japan.
A statement issued after the discussions highlighted concerns over China's intentions to reshape the international order for its own benefit at the expense of others. The foreign and defence ministers expressed serious concern over China's behaviour.
The United States plans to reconstitute US Forces Japan (USFJ) as a joint force headquarters, the statement said. This restructured USFJ will act as a significant counterpart to the Japanese Self-Defense Forces' joint operation headquarters, which is set to be established by March 2025 to unify the command of Japan's ground, maritime, and air services.
China's behaviour was identified as the "greatest strategic challenge" in the statement. Following Japan's recent decision to relax its weapons transfer rules, Tokyo and Washington will investigate opportunities to enhance the production of Patriot Advanced Capability-3 ground-based interceptor missiles and medium-range air-to-air missiles known as AMRAAM, both of which are developed in the US.
The statement emphasised that China's use of political, economic, and military coercion and its military modernization through technology diversion represent significant strategic challenges in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
It also noted that Taiwan's political transition should not be used as a pretext for provocative actions, indirectly referring to a large-scale Chinese military drill around the self-governed democratic island following the inauguration of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in May.
The talks underscored the allies' commitment to addressing shared security concerns in the region and strengthening their defense cooperation in response to evolving threats from China and North Korea.