U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said on Oct. 29 during a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Shinjiro Koizumi, that the U.S.–Japan alliance is critical to deterring “Chinese military aggression.”
“The threats we face are real and they are urgent,“ the Pentagon chief said. ”China’s unprecedented military buildup and its aggressive military actions in the region speak for themselves.”
Hegseth welcomed Japan’s commitment to increase defense spending, saying that it is “an important step forward, and one that we hope will be implemented, and believe will be as soon as possible.”
“Make no mistake about it, our alliance is critical to deterring Chinese military aggression,“ he said. ”To respond to regional contingencies and keeping our country safe, shoulder to shoulder with Japan, we look forward to continuing to strengthen our alliance.”
The two countries agreed to advance initiatives on missile coproduction and the manufacturing and sustainment of U.S. military vessels and aircraft, according to Koizumi.
Takaichi, who assumed office on Oct. 21, previously said in a policy speech that the government plans to increase Japan’s defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product by March 2026, from about 1.8 percent at present.
Takaichi stated that the growing military activities by China, North Korea, and Russia have created an “increasingly severe and complex” security environment for Japan in recent years.
On the issue of China’s military threat against Taiwan, a self-governed island that Beijing claims as part of its territory, Takaichi said that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are “of the utmost importance” to Japan and the international community. She referred to Taiwan as an “extremely important partner” of Japan.
