Amid China’s growing military assertiveness, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth underscored the critical importance of the US–Japan alliance in maintaining regional stability. “The US–Japan partnership is absolutely vital to deterring Chinese military aggression,” Hegseth stated at a press conference in Tokyo on Tuesday.
His remarks came shortly after the first face-to-face meeting between US President Donald Trump and Japan’s newly elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, where security and defense cooperation topped the agenda. Analysts say the Pentagon chief’s comments further strengthen the stance of Japan’s new government.
Amid deteriorating relations with China, Japan has been shifting away from its postwar pacifist stance toward a more assertive defense posture. During a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo on Wednesday, Hegseth said, “We intend to work shoulder to shoulder with Japan to maintain regional stability and ensure the security of both our nations.”
Prime Minister Takaichi recently announced that her government will reach its defense spending target of 2% of GDP within the current fiscal year—two years ahead of schedule. Experts view this as the most significant military transformation in Japan’s postwar history.
Currently, around 60,000 US troops are stationed in Japan. However, Washington continues to urge Tokyo to further increase its defense budget, potentially aligning with NATO’s 5% of GDP benchmark in the future.
Defense Minister Koizumi confirmed, “We are taking steps to meet the 2% defense spending target this fiscal year,” adding, “Missile capabilities in our surrounding region have expanded significantly—strengthening missile defense is now an urgent necessity.”
A day earlier, at the Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo, President Trump and Prime Minister Takaichi jointly addressed sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington. In her remarks, Takaichi said, “Japan is facing unprecedented security challenges. We are determined to fundamentally reinforce our national defense capabilities.”
Analysts suggest that these developments indicate a deepening and more proactive US–Japan defense alliance in the Indo-Pacific region, with a clear focus on countering China’s expanding influence.
Source: AFP