Pentagon No. 3 praises Japan defense report, but vows to make alliance more 'equitable'
The annual report, released Tuesday, says the international community has entered 'a new era of crisis,' with China representing Japan's 'greatest strategic challenge' and U.S. President Donald Trump's policies expected to 'significantly impact' the Indo-Pacific region.
U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby on Tuesday labeled the report 'an important, clear-eyed strategic assessment from our close ally Japan.'
Colby's endorsement, however, came with the stipulation that the U.S. would aim to focus on the shifting tide in the Indo-Pacific by seeking a more 'equitable' balance in its alliance with Japan.
'We at DOD stand ready to work closely with Tokyo to adjust to this new era and to follow President Trump's guidance to make our alliances stronger, more equitable, and thus sustainable,' Colby wrote on X.
Trump has a long history of railing against the U.S.-Japan alliance, saying in recent months that the partnership is unfair and 'one-sided' — remarks that echoed views from his first term, when he demanded Tokyo cough up more cash or risk the removal of American troops.
Colby has carried out these demands, initially saying during a March confirmation hearing that Japan 'should be spending at least 3%' of its gross domestic product on defense 'as soon as possible.' Last month, however, the Pentagon said it had set a 'global standard' for Japan and other U.S. allies to spend 5% of GDP on defense.
Ostensibly pacifist Japan has in recent years undertaken a dramatic transformation of its security policy, including a five-year plan to ramp up defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2027.
Japan's defense white paper alluded to concerns over potential policy shifts under Trump, saying that 'U.S. actions will significantly impact' the regional security environment 'and will require continued attention.'
The Shandong, China's first domestically built aircraft carrier, sits anchored after arriving in Hong Kong on July 3. |
AFP-JIJI
China, meanwhile, lashed out at the attention it received in the report.
'The new version of the defense white paper holds a wrong perception of China, unreasonably interferes in China's internal affairs and hypes up the so-called China threat,' Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian told a news conference Tuesday. 'China expresses strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition to this, and has lodged solemn representations with Japan.'
The white paper singles out China as 'the greatest strategic challenge' Tokyo has ever faced, pointing to the Chinese military's stepped-up 'throughout areas surrounding Japan.'
It cites several recent incidents, including the China Coast Guard's deployment of a helicopter in Japan's territorial airspace around the Japanese-controlled, Chinese-claimed Senkakus in May. The white paper also notes a Chinese military aircraft's incursion into Japanese airspace last August and a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing close to Japan's territorial waters the following month — both firsts.
Beijing has continued to chip away at precedent in recent months, dispatching both of its active aircraft carriers deep into the western Pacific last month and sending its warplanes near Japanese aircraft multiple times in recent weeks, moves that Tokyo said risked collisions.
Following the latest close encounter — during which Chinese JH-7 fighter-bombers came within 30 meters of the Japanese YS-11EB electronic intelligence aircraft — Beijing blamed Tokyo, calling 'close-in reconnaissance and harassment' by the Japanese side 'the root cause' of the incidents.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani speaks during a news conference at the Defense Ministry in Tokyo on Tuesday. |
JIJI
Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said Tuesday that the Air Self-Defense Force had acted appropriately in conducting 'regular surveillance activities,' calling the Chinese allegations that the ASDF aircraft's flights were to blame 'completely unfounded.'
Lin disputed that China's larger military moves were problematic, repeating Beijing's line that it adheres to 'the path of peaceful development and pursues a defensive national defense policy.'
'Its national defense construction and military activities are legitimate and reasonable, and its military cooperation with other countries is in line with international law and international practice,' he said.
Lin accused Tokyo of using the white paper — which also offers a detailed description of progress Japan has made in strengthening its own defenses — to justify its decision to loosen many of the postwar shackles on its military in recent years.
Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, Lin urged Japan to 'deeply reflect' on its role in the war 'and stop looking for pretexts for its military expansion by exaggerating 'tensions in the surrounding areas.''
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