Francis Tuschek
The United States will maintain “strong, prepared, and credible deterrence” in the Taiwan Strait, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated during his visit to Asia, deeming China “aggressive and coercive.”
“America is dedicated to sustaining robust deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, particularly across the Taiwan Strait,” noted Hegseth, who arrived in Japan from the Philippines on his inaugural official trip.
In recent years, China has increased military activities around Taiwan, including frequent air incursions, and has not dismissed the option of using force to assert control.
During an official ceremony in Tokyo, Hegseth recognized Japan’s vital role in countering Chinese aggression and supporting the establishment of credible deterrence in the area, including across the Taiwan Strait.
“We share a common warrior ethos that shapes our forces,” he expressed during discussions with Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani.
Describing Japan as a “cornerstone of peace and security in the Indo-Pacific,” the Pentagon affirmed that the Trump administration would continue collaboration with its important Asian ally, mirroring past policies.
Japan accommodates around 50,000 US military personnel, fighter squadrons, and the only US forward-deployed aircraft carrier strike group, all situated along a 3,000km archipelago that constrains Chinese military activity.
Analysts have raised concerns that Trump’s “America first” agenda could undermine the US’s security commitments in the area.
Nevertheless, Hegseth contended that the previous administration had fostered a perception of American weakness and unpreparedness in deterring conflicts.
“Our mission now, alongside our allies, is to assert: We are re-establishing deterrence. Peace through strength, with America leading, is back,” he declared.
He asserted that Washington would forge an alliance robust enough to ensure that both the reality and perception of deterrence against potential Chinese aggression are sustained.
Hegseth praised the “extraordinary strength” of the US-Japan alliance. “President Trump has made it clear that ‘America First’ doesn’t equate to ‘America Alone’,” he stated. “America and Japan stand united against the aggressive actions of the Chinese Communist Party.”
There are expectations that Trump will encourage Asian allies to increase their military spending and take greater responsibility for their own defense, similar to his approach in Europe.
The Japanese government is also dealing with the repercussions of Trump’s recent 25 percent tariff on auto imports.
Hegseth noted that he did not discuss specific defense spending figures with his Japanese counterpart but expressed confidence that Japan would make informed decisions regarding its defense capabilities within the alliance.
“They have been an exemplary ally, and we trust that will continue, while recognizing that everyone must contribute more,” he said.
Nakatani mentioned that he conveyed to Hegseth that spending decisions should be based on Japan’s own appraisal and responsibility.
He added that Japan has been actively enhancing its defense capabilities, which the US acknowledges.
Japan is moving away from its traditionally pacifist stance by pursuing “counterstrike” capabilities and plans to double its military spending to meet NATO’s target of 2 percent of GDP.
Former US president Joe Biden and former Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida set the stage for a “new era” in cooperation during a summit at the White House last year.
This included establishing a new US headquarters in Japan to oversee US forces there, replacing the US Indo-Pacific Command based in Hawaii, and creating a counterpart to Japan’s new Joint Operations Command for its armed forces, ensuring increased military agility in case of a crisis in Taiwan or the Korean Peninsula.
“We will enhance our inter-operability and perform effective joint activities ranging from peacetime to emergencies,” said Nakatani, adding that expanding the US-Japan presence in Japan’s southwestern region is a top priority for the alliance.