The United State of America said Sunday it intends to reconstitute US Forces in Japan as a joint force headquarters for better coordination of the allies.
This came during the “two-plus-two” security talks in Tokyo, attended by Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and their US counterparts Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin, according to a joint statement released after their meeting.
“To facilitate deeper interoperability and cooperation on joint bilateral operations in peacetime and during contingencies, the US intends to reconstitute US Forces Japan as a joint force headquarters reporting to the Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command,” the statement said.
The reconstituted US Forces Japan will serve as an important counterpart of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces’ joint operation headquarters, it said, adding that the two countries will closely consult and establish working groups to further develop bilateral aspects of US proposal.
“Through a phased approach, the new US Fo
rces Japan would enhance its capabilities and operational cooperation with the Joint Operations Command, as well as assume primary responsibility for coordinating security activities in and around Japan in accordance with the US-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security,” the document said.
The two sides welcomed the high-priority efforts to pursue mutually beneficial co-production opportunities to expand production capacity of medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and ground-based Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) interceptor missiles, the statement noted.
The Japanese side stated that in promoting co-production, it is essential for cooperation to be mutually beneficial, including further technological disclosure from the US side.
They reiterated their strong objections to China’s “unlawful maritime claims, militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea,” the statement said.
They also highlighted with concern Russia’s growing and prov
ocative strategic military cooperation with China, including through joint operations and drills in the vicinity of Japan, and China’s support for Russia’s defense industrial base.
At the outset of the meeting, Kamikawa said, “We are at a critical juncture. In order to thoroughly defend the existing international order, we need to continuously strengthen our alliance and enhance the deterrence power. Japan and US need to strengthen further cooperation with likeminded countries who share the strategic objective.” Blinken reaffirmed US unwavering support for the alliance between the two countries, calling it the cornerstone of peace, security, stability in the Indo-Pacific and really critical to tackling global challenges.
For his part, Austin spoke highly of their joint work to support Japan’s counterstrike capability. “We will bolster defense industrial cooperation, including missile coproduction, and we will increase our bilateral presence in the southwest islands. We are also strengthening our defense coo
peration with other allies and partners in the region, including Australia, India, the Republic of Korea, and the Philippines,” he said.
Source: Kuwait News Agency