Meanwhile the United States is further increasing its military command structure in Japan. This important step will strengthen defense assets throughout the Indo-Pacific. This strategic shift underscores Japan’s role as a “cornerstone of peace and security” in the area, according to U.S. government officials. The revamp signifies a concerted effort to deepen coordination with Tokyo’s forces amid growing concerns about China’s expanding influence.
Indeed, both the U.S. and Japan have previously described China as the “greatest strategic challenge.” This nugget of wisdom has led the two countries to strengthen their military cooperation. In support of these efforts, Japan has already doubled its military spending, including purchasing new longer-range missiles to counter China’s aggression. Despite this, Japan’s operational scope is still constrained by its U.S.-authored constitution, which renounces the right to go to war.
Japan is essential to the U.S. plan to deter Chinese military aggression. It accommodates the 50,000-person U.S. military presence there, as well as 20 squadrons of fighter jets. In addition to being home to the only forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group, Japan is a strong US ally. This only serves to further strengthen its reputation as a pivotal Asian ally.
“Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring communist Chinese military aggression,” – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
The defense industrial cooperation between the U.S. and Japan moves into advanced weapons production. The two countries are cooperating in the joint production of beyond-visual-range air-to-air AMRAAM missiles. In addition, they are looking at joint SM-6 surface-to-air defense missiles production. These initiatives are a testament to the strong bipartisan commitment to push back against Chinese aggression.
The U.S. and Japan are in fact deepening their military relationship. In the interim, the Chinese foreign ministry has been deafening in its silence and not issued a single comment on these developments. The silence in response speaks to the power of the issue to inflame and polarize.
Japan’s military enhancements especially important in light of its constitutional limitations. The nation’s constitution, written in the wake of World War II, restricts its ability to act offensively in military operations. The changing geopolitical environment requires that we rethink these limits to better meet today’s security challenges.
The U.S.-Japan alliance is the cornerstone of regional stability. The joint work of the countries in the partnership is a significant challenge to China’s increasing presence and influence. It by extension builds lasting peace and security in connecting the entire Indo-Pacific. Japan’s strategic importance—the key element to U.S. defense planning for decades—is once again hard to miss.