US sets up ‘war-fighting HQ' in Japan for possible China conflict
The US will set up a 'war-fighting headquarters' in Japan to prepare for a possible conflict with China.
Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, said on Sunday that US troops in Japan would be reorganised to 'keep the enemy guessing' and create 'strategic dilemmas' for China.
He said the upgrade, first announced by the Biden administration, would help US Forces Japan co-ordinate better with local troops, amid fears China might invade Taiwan.
'Peace through strength with America in the lead is back,' Mr Hegseth said at a joint press conference with Gen Nakatani, his Japanese counterpart, in Tokyo on Sunday.
'Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression,' he said as he opened the event.
Mr Hegseth continued: 'Soon, we will add additional personnel in Tokyo and at US Forces Japan headquarters to conduct activities that will strengthen our bilateral bonds and deepen our operational co-operation.'
'This also means reorganising US Forces Japan into a war-fighting headquarters, increasing its staff and giving its commander the authorities needed to accomplish new missions.'
He added: 'As I mentioned in our meeting, America and Japan, we seek peace. But as my first platoon motto says: 'Those who long for peace must prepare for war.''
Japan has been concerned about how US engagement in the region might change under Donald Trump's 'America First' policy, Japanese defence officials said.
Mr Trump has threatened to impose trade tariffs on Japan, a key US ally, contributing to concern in Tokyo.
The two allies agreed to accelerate plans to jointly develop and produce missiles – such as advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles – and to consider producing SM-6 surface-to-air missiles to help ease a shortage of munitions, Mr Nakatani said.
The ministers also agreed to speed up the maintenance of US warships and warplanes in Japan to strengthen and complement Japanese and US defence industries.
Japan is home to more than 50,000 US troops. Tokyo and Washington first decided to upgrade their command and control, and that of the Japanese military who work alongside them, last July.
Last week, Tokyo launched Japan Joint Operations Command to co-ordinate Japanese ground, maritime and air self-defence forces, in a significant move to strengthen capabilities, respond to contingencies and better co-operate with the US.
Mr Hegseth and Mr Nakatani also said they agreed on the need to improve Japan's defence posture in its south-western islands, which are in critical locations along disputed areas in the East China Sea and near Taiwan, to further step up deterrence against China.
The US defence secretary stressed the need to have 'sustaining, robust, ready and credible deterrence' in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait, as 'Japan would be on the front lines of any contingency we might face in the western Pacific'.
China claims Taiwan as its own territory. The US is obligated under a 1979 law to provide Taiwan with sufficient military hardware and technology to deter invasion, and its arm sales to Taiwan have always drawn strong opposition from Beijing.
On Saturday, Mr Hegseth joined the US-Japan joint memorial to honour the war dead of the Battle of Iwo Jima as they marked the 80th anniversary of the end of one of the fiercest clashes of the Second World War.
Before landing in Japan, Mr Hegseth stopped in the Philippines, where he reiterated Mr Trump's commitment to step up ties with the country, which faces maritime disputes with China.
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