By: Ben  Xu

July 28, 2024 – U.S. and Japanese officials announced in Tokyo, Japan, that they will take steps to boost military ties as a result of aggressive military moves from China.

One step to boost the military alliance is to create a new Joint Force headquarters in the Indo-Pacific that would respond to the American Commander. As a result of this establishment, the defensive partnership between the U.S. and Japan in the Indo-Pacific would improve. Another step is to increase co-production, including building more air-to-air missiles – missiles fired from an aircraft in order to attack another aircraft – and building air defense interception missiles that would destroy other ballistic missiles(ballistic missiles are initially fueled by rocket power). With these weaponry improvements, their military alliance would also strengthen.

The meeting of this announcement was between the finest defensive and foreign-policy officials from the U.S. and Japan. Lloyd J. Austin III, the defensive secretary of the U.S., said, “The U.S. will have a direct leadership role in planning and leading U.S. forces in both peacetime and in potential crises. And that will give us an opportunity to work closely together to ensure greater peace and stability.” Lloyd J. Austin believes that as U.S. forces take a leadership role, more chances for cooperation between the U.S. and Japan will form.

This meeting was especially important after Joe Biden, the 46th president of the United States, dropped out of the race. Defense from the U.S. was crucial for Japan and South Korea to prevent war with China or North Korea. Many of the foreign leaders from these countries question how the new president will approach foreign policy. Kamala Harris may continue with Biden’s policies, but Trump has previously criticized military alliances. Japan and South Korea remain concerned, wishing that the military alliance with the U.S. continues.

A few months before the meeting, Biden met with the Japanese Prime Minister, Fumio Kishida. They had agreed that it was best to strengthen the economic and military ties between the U.S. and Japan.

Sources:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/07/28/world/asia/us-japan-military-alliance.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-japan-to-announce-upgrade-in-military-cooperation/