Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin spoke by phone with Japan’s new minister of defense, Nakatani Gen, for the first time on Oct. 8, with both nations agreeing to expand their military presence around China amid increasing aggression from the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
According to Pentagon press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the alliance has made historic progress. Indeed, Japan is emerging as a key ally in peacekeeping in the Indo-Pacific and as a trade partner that has heeded U.S. calls to counter the CCP’s predatory trade practices.
“The two officials also reiterated the importance of deepening defense cooperation with regional partners to advance a shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” a Pentagon readout of the call reads.
Both allies will increase their presence in Japan’s southwestern islands, where Japan reported unprecedented breaches by the Chinese into Japanese waters and airspace. These are a long chain of small islands that extend into the East China Sea, nearly connecting with Taiwan. It’s part of a strategically critical zone often dubbed the “first island chain” containing China. The second island chain lies in the West Pacific, including American territory Guam, and would give either China or the United States an advantage in the event of a conflict but currently has mixed alliances.
The CCP has, in recent years, ramped up military aggression in the Indo-Pacific and more so this year with events such as the recent, rare test-firing of a long-range nuclear missile and “punishment” drills surrounding Taiwan after the democratic island held an election.
As a result, Indo-Pacific neighbors are increasingly wary that the CCP will upend regional order and are increasing joint military drills with allies.
Japan has participated in several of these in recent months. In June, Japan, the Philippines, and the United States held their first-ever joint maritime drill with about 400 coast guard personnel. In July, Japanese and Taiwanese coast guards held joint maritime exercises for the first time since 1972. In September, Japan and Australia, two of the region’s biggest forces, agreed to increase joint military exercises after expressing concern over Chinese military activity.
At the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit this week, recently elected Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Japan would provide maritime law enforcement training and patrol vessels to the alliance nations and help strengthen economic security and cyber security.
“Japan shares principles such as freedom, democracy, and the rule of law, and would like to create and protect the future together with ASEAN,” he said.
