Japan and the United States agreed on Friday to increase joint production of defense equipment, including missiles, and to expand joint military drills in waters southwest of mainland Japan. The move comes as China increases pressure on the region.
The agreement was reached following a meeting in Washington between Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth. The two also committed to greater cooperation on supply chains for critical minerals.
Tensions in the region have escalated following a diplomatic dispute between Japan and China, which began after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi suggested in November that Japan could intervene militarily if China were to attack Taiwan.
In response, China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, blocked exports of “dual-use” items with potential military applications to Japan. This has raised concerns in Tokyo that Beijing could also restrict supplies of essential rare earths.
A statement from Japan’s defense ministry noted that “the security environment is rapidly growing severe,” and confirmed that “the Japan-US alliance remains absolutely unwavering.”
The ministers agreed to advance the joint production of air-to-air missiles and surface-to-air interceptors. They also committed to expanding “more sophisticated and practical joint drills in various locations including the Southwest region.”
Strengthening defense capabilities around Japan’s Southwest region, which includes the island of Okinawa, is a key priority for the Japanese government. Okinawa hosts the majority of American military bases in Japan and is a crucial outpost for monitoring China, the Taiwan Strait, and the Korean peninsula.
The Japanese government under Prime Minister Takaichi has been increasing its military budget, approving a record nine trillion yen in defense spending for the next fiscal year. According to the recently re-branded US Department of War, Secretary Hegseth praised this as a “practical, common-sense approach that puts both of our vital national interests together.”
