Japan (Washington Insider Magazine) — In a landmark move, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida unveiled a series of new defense agreements on Wednesday, marking a “generational upgrade” to their alliance. The agreements aim to enhance military cooperation, address regional stability concerns, and counter China’s rising influence and aggression in the Asia-Pacific region.
The new agreements include improving command-and-control systems, launching joint military exercises with the United Kingdom, and forming an industrial council to build weapons together. Additionally, the U.S. will adjust its force structure in Japan to better integrate with Japan’s defense forces. The countries will also network their missile defense systems with Australia’s to form a stronger regional defense network.
“This is about restoring stability in the region,” Biden said, alluding to China’s growing military power and increasing assertiveness, particularly in its claims over Taiwan.
Over the past few years, Japan has made significant changes to its defense policy in response to China’s rise. It has doubled its defense spending cap from 1% to 2% of GDP by 2027, revamped its national security strategy, and removed long-standing restrictions on defense exports. Japan has also acquired advanced weapons like the Tomahawk missile to strengthen its deterrence capabilities.
Toshi Yoshihara, a China expert at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, praised Japan’s shift, noting, “What Japan’s has been doing over the past few years is nothing short of astounding.”
Although the new defense initiatives will take months to be fully implemented, senior U.S. officials hinted at future opportunities for Japan to join parts of the AUKUS defense pact, which focuses on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence and hypersonic missiles.
The U.S.-Japan alliance upgrade comes as Kishida visits Washington for a state visit, reinforcing the importance of the Indo-Pacific region in U.S. foreign policy. Later this week, Biden and Kishida will meet with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos for a trilateral summit aimed at strengthening regional security further.
