Milley Says ‘Powerful’ Japan Could Help US Deter China, North Korea

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the conclusion of military operations in Afghanistan and plans for future counterterrorism operations, on Capitol Hill in Washington on Sept. 28, 2021. Patrick Semansky/Pool via AP Photo

A top U.S military official on Friday praised Japan’s move to bolster its security, saying that having a “powerful” ally like Japan could help the United States deter threats posed by China and North Korea.

Japan sought to increase its defense budget for 2023 to a record 6.8 trillion yen ($50 billion), up 20 percent from the previous year. That includes 211.3 billion yen ($1.55 billion) for U.S.-made long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.