US, Japan defense leaders vows to strengthen alliance capabilities in Indo-Pacific

Asia-Pacific, News, US September 15, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin welcomed Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada to the Pentagon as both leaders vowed to strengthen the bilateral alliance.

The defense leaders of the U.S. and Japan also agreed to deepen cooperation with other like-minded nations, “including building upon recent trilateral engagements with South Korea and Australia.”

The Department of Defense statement highlighted that the U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of security in the Indo-Pacific and both countries “share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and a rules-based international order.”

During the meeting, Defense Secretary Austin reaffirmed the U.S. unwavering commitment to the defense of Japan, and stressed that it includes “our commitment to credible and resilient extended deterrence, using the full range of our conventional and nuclear capabilities.”

Secretary Austin highlighted that in the face of growing challenges, “we’re going to discuss ways to further strengthen our defense cooperation, including our joint efforts to modernize a U.S.-Japan alliance and bolster integrated deterrence.”

Japanese Defense Minister Hamada said that “We have seen various events that are of concern for the Japan-U.S. alliance, one after another, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, the landing of China’s ballistic missiles near waters of Japan, and China and Russia’s joint exercise around Japan.”

“We can never condone unilateral attempts to change the status quo in any parts of the world. At the same time, the aggression against Ukraine shows us the paramount importance of the will and capabilities to defend one’s own country,” Hamada added.

According to the Pentagon, Japanese Defense Minister Hamada wants to “work closely with the United States to modernize the overall alliance and, specifically, Japanese military capabilities.”

*^{Rendering of an AGM-183A Air-launched Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) showing its hypersonic glide warhead. (Image Credit: Lockheed Martin)}*

According to Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, Japan and the United States agreed on joint technological research to counter hypersonic weapons as both nations are working closely to align their security strategies. Both China and North Korea have developed hypersonic missiles that are capable of striking Japan.

Last month, a Japanese news media outlet reported that Japan is considering deploying more than 1000 long-range cruise missiles to bolster its counterattacking capabilities against China and North Korea. Japan plans to deploy the ship or aircraft-based missile systems around the southern Nansei islands.

Rising tensions in the region and the increasing capabilities of Japan’s rivals have triggered Japan’s efforts to acquire and develop more units of long-range ballistic missiles. In order to counter increasing security challenges, Japan also plans to conduct the first revision of its long-term security and diplomacy policy guidelines in nine years, and update its National Security Strategy by the end of 2022.

^{An MH-60R Seahawk, attached to the “Saberhawks” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 77, flies alongside Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Utility Landing Ship JS Yusotei 2-go (LCU 2002) prior to the first torpedo exercise conducted by a U.S. Navy squadron alongside the JMSDF on March 10, 2022, at Tokyo Bay. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Askia Collins)}

Separately on September 8, Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada held talks with his Indian counterpart, Rajnath Singh, in Tokyo. During the meeting, Japan and India have agreed to deepen defense cooperation and hold the first Japan-India joint fighter aircraft exercise to strengthen bilateral defense ties further.