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Japan and U.S. Agree to Broaden Military Alliance Japan and U.S. Agree to Broaden Military Alliance
(35 minutes later)
TOKYO — Against the backdrop of pressing regional tensions, the United States and Japan agreed Thursday to broaden their military alliance, including by adding a new missile defense radar system in Japan and cooperating to combat cyber threats. TOKYO — Against the backdrop of pressing regional tensions, the United States and Japan agreed Thursday to broaden their military alliance, including by adding a new missile defense radar system in Japan and cooperating to combat cyberthreats.
The agreement, signed during a joint visit here by Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a meeting with their Japanese counterparts, signals the United States’s increased military, economic and diplomatic focus on Asia, and it is likely to alarm China, which has had increasingly testy relations with Tokyo. The agreement, signed during a joint visit here by Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel in a meeting with their Japanese counterparts, signals the United States’ increased military, economic and diplomatic focus on Asia, and it is likely to alarm China, which has had increasingly testy relations with Tokyo.
The deal comes at a time when the Japanese government is seeking to greatly enhance its own military capabilities and to revise its pacifist constitution, drafted after World War II, paving the way for it to become a more equal partner with the United States in times of conflict. The deal comes at a time when the Japanese government is seeking to greatly enhance its own military capabilities and to revise its pacifist Constitution, drafted after World War II, paving the way for it to become a more equal partner with the United States in times of conflict.
“Our bilateral defense cooperation, including America’s commitment to the security of Japan, is a critical component of our overall relationship,” Mr. Hagel said during a news conference in Tokyo Thursday afternoon. “And to the Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia-Pacific.” “Our bilateral defense cooperation, including America’s commitment to the security of Japan, is a critical component of our overall relationship,” Mr. Hagel said during a news conference in Tokyo on Thursday afternoon, “and to the Obama administration’s rebalance to Asia-Pacific.”
Most significantly, the United States will deploy a new X-band radar system in Kyogamisaki over the next year to better protect both nations against military threats from North Korea.Most significantly, the United States will deploy a new X-band radar system in Kyogamisaki over the next year to better protect both nations against military threats from North Korea.
For the first time, the two countries will work on specific cyberdefense projects to increase cybersecurity in both countries. Further, the United States Marine Corps will replace aging helicopters here with two squadrons of MV-22 aircraft, and will deploy surveillance drones to be based in Japan for the first time. And the P-8, a cutting-edge highly advanced manned reconnaissance airplane, will be deployed for the first time to Japan to help the United States and its allies monitor maritime activities in the Pacific, where Japan and China both claim the same disputed islands.For the first time, the two countries will work on specific cyberdefense projects to increase cybersecurity in both countries. Further, the United States Marine Corps will replace aging helicopters here with two squadrons of MV-22 aircraft, and will deploy surveillance drones to be based in Japan for the first time. And the P-8, a cutting-edge highly advanced manned reconnaissance airplane, will be deployed for the first time to Japan to help the United States and its allies monitor maritime activities in the Pacific, where Japan and China both claim the same disputed islands.
The Japanese also agreed to offer better military support in global humanitarian relief efforts.The Japanese also agreed to offer better military support in global humanitarian relief efforts.
“Our relationship has never been strong er or better than it is today,” Mr. Kerry said. “We are continuing to adapt, however, to confront the different challenges of the 21st century.” “Our relationship has never been stronger or better than it is today,” Mr. Kerry said. “We are continuing to adapt, however, to confront the different challenges of the 21st century.”
Addressing a vexing local issue, 9,000 Marines will be relocated from the base in Okinawa outside Japan, with 5,000 of those forces deployed to Guam and the Japanese footing some of the bill for the transfer, saving the fiscally-strained Defense Department from the expense. Addressing a vexing local issue, 9,000 Marines will be relocated from the base in Okinawa outside Japan, with 5,000 of those forces deployed to Guam and the Japanese footing some of the bill for the transfer, saving the fiscally strained Defense Department from the expense.
Since Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was elected at the end of last year, he has revived Japan’s efforts to enhance its military capabilities. Under its constitution, Japan has been constrained since World War II from using military force for purposes beyond basic self-defense, something Mr. Abe is seeking to change. Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was elected at the end of last year, he has revived Japan’s efforts to enhance its military capabilities. Under its Constitution, Japan has been constrained since World War II from using military force for purposes beyond basic self-defense, something Mr. Abe is seeking to change.
These efforts have become complicated by Japan’s increasingly tense relations with nearby South Korea and China. In the latter case, the two nations have been in a frosty standoff over ownership of a set of islands known in Japan as the Senkaku in China as the Diaoyu, a conflict with no resolution in site. These efforts have become complicated by Japan’s increasingly tense relations with nearby South Korea and China. In the latter case, the two nations have been in a frosty standoff over ownership of a set of islands known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu, a conflict with no resolution in sight. Further, Mr. Abe has shown support for claims made by Japanese conservatives that Korean women were not forced into sexual slavery by the Japanese military during the war, and other historically rooted conflicts, leaving relations between Tokyo and Seoul at their darkest in years.
Further, Mr. Abe has shown support for claims made by Japanese conservatives that Korean women were not coerced into “comfort” roles by the Japanese military during the war, and other historically rooted conflicts, leaving relations between Tokyo and Seoul at their darkest in years.
But both nations share a concern with Japan over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and its proliferation of chemical weapons, one of the preoccupying concerns of the region.But both nations share a concern with Japan over North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs and its proliferation of chemical weapons, one of the preoccupying concerns of the region.
“Today we have seen a meeting of minds between Japan and the United States with respect to this situation,” said Fumio Kishda, the Japanese minister dealing with North Korea. “We are decidedly opposed to the attempt to change the status quo through coercion.” “Today we have seen a meeting of minds between Japan and the United States with respect to this situation,” said Fumio Kishida, the Japanese minister dealing with North Korea. “We are decidedly opposed to the attempt to change the status quo through coercion.”
Mr. Kerry said that the United States seeks to have a cooperative relationship with China around the issue of North Korea and other areas of common ground.
“We also seek to find the things we can cooperate on,” he said, but he added that the United States has been “very clear about our interests and those thing that we think represent lines that we think should not be crossed,” including on the matter of the islands dispute with Japan. While the United States is not weighiing in on that matter, he said “we do recognize Japan’s administration of those islands.”
He added, “A rising China is welcome as long as that China wants to engage according to international standards.”