US, Japan plan to strengthen security pact inked over 60 years ago
US military plans to bolster functions of its command headquarters in Japan, as it aims for smoother cooperation with the Asian country's self-defence forces in tackling security threats posed by China and North Korea according to diplomatic sources cited by Kyodo news agency.
Japan and the United States will also work on further steps to enhance their response capabilities, Kyodo reported. Tokyo had in 2022 decided to acquire the capability to strike enemy bases even under Japan's war-renouncing Constitution.
Also, Japan is set to establish a joint headquarters to command its ground, maritime and air forces by the end of March 2025 with Kishida's government is aiming to deepen cooperation between the US military and the joint headquarters.
The development comes amidst what the two countries, which have been allies since the World War II, view as a growing threat from North Korea and China in the backdrop of Pyongyang's missile tests and Beijing's military activities in the South China Sea as well as the Taiwan conflict.
Notably, China (People's Republic of China) considers the self-ruled territory of Taiwan as part of its territory and claims there is only «one China.». China has increased military activities around Taiwan in recent years, including near-daily incursions into the country's air defence identification zone (ADIZ) and sending military ships near its maritime borders
This comes ahead of talks in Washington next month between Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and US President Joe Biden in which
