July 28th 2024.
Today in Tokyo, Japanese and US leaders in defense and diplomacy will come together for discussions aimed at enhancing their military partnership. The main focus will be on upgrading the command and control of US forces and expanding missile production in Japan, as the threat from China continues to rise.
Joining the talks will be Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, along with their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara. This meeting, known as the "2+2" security talks, is a chance for both countries to reaffirm their alliance, especially after President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw from the November presidential race.
One significant aspect of these talks will be the separate discussions on "extended deterrence," which includes atomic weapons. This marks a shift from Japan's previous hesitance to openly discuss this sensitive issue, as it is the only country in the world to have experienced nuclear attacks. This move comes amid growing nuclear threats from both Russia and China.
Another important topic on the agenda is the upgrading of command and control structures for US forces in Japan. This will involve bringing in higher-ranked officers with commanding authority, in order to create a US counterpart for Japan's unified command, which is set to launch in March. Currently, the US Forces Japan headquarters in Yokota has no commanding authority, as that comes from the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii. This upgrade aims to improve coordination and joint operations between the two countries.
Prior to the 2+2 talks, Kihara also met with Austin and South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik for the first trilateral defense talks hosted by Tokyo. They signed a memorandum based on their agreement in June in Singapore, which institutionalizes regular high-level talks, joint exercises, and other exchanges. This memorandum solidifies the three countries' commitment to ongoing defense cooperation, even amidst changing global environments.
Kihara also met with Shin, who is the first South Korean defense chief to visit Japan in 15 years. They agreed to take concrete steps to strengthen their bilateral defense ties. Japan has been ramping up its military capabilities and increasing joint operations with both the US and South Korea, as well as focusing on expanding its domestic defense industry.
In addition to discussions on missile production, the ministers are also expected to discuss the possibility of increased Japanese production of PAC-3 interceptors for export to the United States. This comes after Japan eased its arms export restrictions and provided the US with PAC-3 missiles in December to replenish their inventory, which had decreased due to their support for Ukraine.
Overall, the talks will also touch on the increased cooperation between the Japanese and US arms industries. This cooperation was emphasized in an agreement between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and President Biden in April. Working groups have been established to facilitate missile co-production and the maintenance and repair of US Navy ships and Air Force aircraft in the region. This not only helps the US in their defense efforts in the Indo-Pacific, but also strengthens the Japanese defense industry.
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