U.S. and Japanese Defense Chiefs Reaffirm Focus on Indo-Pacific, Seek to Deter China’s Provocations

Financial News Tokyo correspondent Seo Hye-jin reports that Shinjirō Koizumi, Japanese Minister of Defense, who is currently visiting the United States, said on the 16th (local time) that he met with United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and agreed to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance.
According to Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), Koizumi made these remarks to reporters after concluding talks with Secretary Hegseth at the United States Department of Defense (DoD) in Washington, D.C., earlier that day.
Koizumi stated, “We confirmed that there is absolutely no wavering in the U.S.-Japan alliance and that our two countries are closely coordinated,” adding, “This visit strongly reaffirmed that the United States places great importance on the Indo-Pacific region, including Japan.”
In the talks, the two sides agreed to pursue a range of efforts to further strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance in light of the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. They also decided to conduct more advanced and realistic joint exercises in southwestern Japan and to enhance cooperation in defense equipment and technology so as to mutually reinforce the defense industrial bases of both countries.
In particular, they shared the view that they must work to deter China’s unilateral attempts to change the status quo within the First Island Chain in the Pacific, including around Japan.
Ahead of the meeting, Secretary Hegseth said, “Strengthening our capabilities through substantive training and exercises in Japan and across the First Island Chain in the Pacific is precisely the kind of operational demonstration we must be able to show,” emphasizing that “this is to ensure peace through strength, something our president always talks about.”
Meanwhile, when asked whether there had been any U.S. request for an increase in Japan’s defense budget, Koizumi indicated that no such request was made, saying, “When Secretary Hegseth visited Japan last October, he stated that ‘there will be no asking anything of Japan,’ and this single remark also sums up our discussions this time.” He added, “With regard to the level of defense spending, as we proceed with revisions to Japan's three security documents, we will increase the necessary equipment and investments based on Japan’s own judgment.”
Koizumi further noted that he had explained to Secretary Hegseth that, in relation to the revision of Japan's three security documents, Japan is reviewing all options without excluding any.

sjmary@fnnews.com Seo Hye-jin Reporter