Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reaffirmed Japan's critical role in countering Chinese military aggression during his visit to Tokyo on Sunday.
Hegseth announced plans to upgrade the U.S. military command in Japan to a new "war-fighting headquarters" to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, the Associated Press reported. "Japan is our indispensable partner in deterring Communist Chinese military aggression," Hegseth said.
"The U.S. is moving fast to reestablish deterrence in this region and around the world," Hegseth said in talks with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. He emphasized that Japan would be on the "frontlines" of any potential conflict in the western Pacific, particularly concerning tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
His remarks aimed to reassure Japan amid concerns over the direction of U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump, particularly regarding security commitments and potential trade tariffs.
Hegseth's stop in Japan follows a visit to the Philippines, where he also reinforced U.S. support amid maritime disputes with China. His trip underscores Washington's efforts to strengthen alliances in the face of China's growing military assertiveness in the region.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
