U.S. and Japan agree to intensify security cooperation

The U.S. and Japan announced Wednesday an increase in security cooperation in the face of shared concerns about China, and Washington strongly supported the massive military buildup that Tokyo announced last month.

“We agree that the PRC is the greatest shared strategic challenge facing us, our allies and partners,” Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said after he and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with their Japanese counterparts in Washington.

At the same press conference, Austin announced plans to deploy an additional regiment of Marines to Japan.

Blinken also announced that the two sides had agreed to expand their shared space defense treaty.

Austin will meet again with Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada Thursday at the Pentagon; that will be followed by a meeting Friday between President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The agreement follows nearly a year of negotiations and comes after Japan last month announced the largest military buildup since World War II.

The five-year plan would double defense spending to 2 percent of gross domestic product. Japan will purchase missiles that can hit sea and land targets.

Asked about Japan’s reforms, Blinken said:

“We sincerely welcome the new strategies, especially because there is a remarkable overlap between our strategy and Japan’s…. We welcome the commitment to increased investment, expanded roles, missions and capabilities … closer cooperation not only between the United States and Japan, but also with other allies and other partners.”

U.S. anti-ship missiles will arrive in Japan as weapons for a 2,000-strong Marine regiment that will focus on intelligence, monitoring and communications, U.S. administration officials told Reuters. The redeployment is expected to be completed by 2025.

Officials added that a separate U.S. Army company of about 300 soldiers and officers will be deployed this spring. Thirteen ships will also be provided to help move U.S. and Japanese troops and equipment, allowing for rapid dispersal tasks.