Latest news with #US-JapanSecurityTreaty
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hegseth Says US Is Upgrading Japan Ops to War-Fighting Command
(Bloomberg) -- Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the US military has begun to upgrade its operations in Japan to a new 'war-fighting' command, highlighting the Trump administration's focus on China as its primary security challenge. Gold-Rush Fever Returns to Historic New Zealand Mining Town What Frank Lloyd Wright Learned From the Desert Bank Regulators Fight for Desks as OCC Returns to New York Tower These US Bridges Face High Risk of Catastrophic Ship Strikes Charter Schools, Colleges Push Muni Debt Distress Near Record In Tokyo, the final stop on a swing through the Asia-Pacific region that's been overshadowed by revelations that Hegseth gave advance details of military strikes in Yemen in a Signal chat that included a journalist, the secretary said the US would deepen its defense coordination with Japan. 'America and Japan stand firmly together in the face of aggressive and coercive actions by the communist Chinese,' he said, speaking after a meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani. Hegseth said the US would add more personnel to a new joint command in Japan that would direct any initial US military response to a crisis in the region, and would work closely with a newly created Japanese military command overseeing air, land, sea and other forces. US Forces Japan would become a 'war-fighting headquarters,' he said, a move that 'increases our readiness to respond to contingency or crisis, support US operations and help Japan and US forces defend this territory.' Hegseth's visit to Japan, coming after a similar emphasis on deepening the US alliance with the Philippines during a stop in Manila, goes some way toward reassuring allies that it intends to remain engaged in the region. Doubts were fueled earlier this month when President Donald Trump criticized the US-Japan Security Treaty, signed in 1960, by highlighting the fact that the US is obliged to defend Japan under the agreement but Japan doesn't offer the same security guarantees in return. Japanese officials say they've been looking for reassurances that Washington would follow through on plans created under the Biden administration to ramp up US military presence in Japan with the creation of the joint force headquarters. While Japan is increasing its defense spending, it continues to rely heavily on the US for its security as it faces threats from China and North Korea. In a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later on Sunday, Hegseth agreed that the US and Japan would increase their military presence around Japan's southwestern island chain and bolster ties with other allies in the region, according to a Japanese government statement. The two men also agreed to increase defense industry cooperation and confirmed the US pledged to defend Japan, including with nuclear weapons if necessary. Trump in the past has called for Japan to spend more on defense and pay more for US military bases, but Hegseth and Nakatani said the subject of Japan's defense budget and what it pays to the US for bases didn't come up during their meeting. Instead, Nakatani said the meeting focused on broad strategy and ways to deepen the alliance. 'Together with Secretary Hegseth, I confirmed our determination to move forward with a sense of urgency to strengthen our respective defense capabilities and the Japan-US alliance's deterrence and response efforts,' he said. The largest US permanent overseas military presence is in Japan, where about 53,000 active duty service members are stationed at bases around the country. Japan makes a commitment every five years to help cover the costs of US bases. Under the current deal, which runs through March 2027, Japan pays an average of 211 billion yen ($1.4 billion) each year. Tokyo is also in the process of raising its defense spending to about 2% of gross domestic product in 2027 from about 1% five years earlier. On Saturday, the two defense ministers visited the Japanese island of Iwo Jima to mark the 80th anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II between the US and Japan. --With assistance from Momoka Yokoyama and Yuko Takeo. (Adds details of meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba) Trump's IRS Cuts Are Tempting Taxpayers to Cheat Google Is Searching for an Answer to ChatGPT Israel Aims to Be the World's Arms Dealer Business Schools Are Back How a US Maker of Rat-Proof Trash Bins Got Boxed in by Trump's Tariffs ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Japan to deploy first long-range missiles capable of reaching North Korea and China
Japan is reportedly considering deploying long-range missiles on its southernmost island, putting North Korea and Chinese coastal areas in range amid the Donald Trump administration's shaky stance on security pacts. The land-to-ship guided missiles with a range of about 1,000km on the Kyushu island would be capable of hitting targets in North Korea and China and thus boost the country's 'counterstrike capabilities' in the event of an emergency, government sources told news outlet Kyodo. The upgraded version of Type-12 missile could be deployed at two bases on the island by the end of the next fiscal year in March 2026, it said. The likely deployment at the Yufu missile garrison in Oita Prefecture and Kengun camp in Kumamoto, however, is raising concerns among local residents who fear an escalation in tensions in the area. This comes as security guarantees under longstanding Japanese pacts with the US come under threat in Mr Trump's second term. Earlier this month, Mr Trump criticised the US-Japan Security Treaty saying that it bound Washington to defend Japan but did not require Tokyo to provide the same guarantees in return. 'We have a great relationship with Japan. But we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them but they don't have to protect us,' Mr Trump told reporters on 6 March after signing an executive order in the Oval Office. 'And by the way, they make a fortune with us economically,' the president added. 'I actually asked who makes these deals?' First signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, the security treaty allows the US to station military forces in Japan in return for a commitment to defend the Asian country from attack. The deal was signed back when Japan was still occupied by US forces to maintain a foothold against the communist bloc in Asia during the Cold War. The treaty underpins the largest overseas US military presence, with about 60,000 personnel currently stationed in Japan. Japan's pacifist constitution bars involvement in foreign conflicts. But a decade ago, then prime minister Shinzo Abe eased restrictions, allowing the military to defend allies under attack near Japan. The expected missile deployment is reportedly aimed at enhancing security in the southwestern Nansei island chain, which is strategically important given its proximity to Taiwan amid fears the self-ruled island can come under attack from China.
The Independent
18-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Japan to deploy first long-range missiles capable of reaching North Korea and China
Japan is reportedly considering deploying long-range missiles on its southernmost island, putting North Korea and Chinese coastal areas in range amid the Donald Trump administration's shaky stance on security pacts. The land-to-ship guided missiles with a range of about 1,000km on the Kyushu island would be capable of hitting targets in North Korea and China and thus boost the country's 'counterstrike capabilities' in the event of an emergency, government sources told news outlet Kyodo. The upgraded version of Type-12 missile could be deployed at two bases on the island by the end of the next fiscal year in March 2026, it said. The likely deployment at the Yufu missile garrison in Oita Prefecture and Kengun camp in Kumamoto, however, is raising concerns among local residents who fear an escalation in tensions in the area. This comes as security guarantees under longstanding Japanese pacts with the US come under threat in Mr Trump's second term. Earlier this month, Mr Trump criticised the US- Japan Security Treaty saying that it bound Washington to defend Japan but did not require Tokyo to provide the same guarantees in return. 'We have a great relationship with Japan. But we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them but they don't have to protect us,' Mr Trump told reporters on 6 March after signing an executive order in the Oval Office. 'And by the way, they make a fortune with us economically,' the president added. 'I actually asked who makes these deals?' First signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, the security treaty allows the US to station military forces in Japan in return for a commitment to defend the Asian country from attack. The deal was signed back when Japan was still occupied by US forces to maintain a foothold against the communist bloc in Asia during the Cold War. The treaty underpins the largest overseas US military presence, with about 60,000 personnel currently stationed in Japan. Japan's pacifist constitution bars involvement in foreign conflicts. But a decade ago, then prime minister Shinzo Abe eased restrictions, allowing the military to defend allies under attack near Japan. The expected missile deployment is reportedly aimed at enhancing security in the southwestern Nansei island chain, which is strategically important given its proximity to Taiwan amid fears the self-ruled island can come under attack from China.
Express Tribune
07-03-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Trump calls US-Japan security treaty ‘unfair,' says Japan offers no protection
Photo: US President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the US Capitol US President Donald Trump criticized the US-Japan Security Treaty, calling it 'unequal' and highlighting the one-sided nature of the agreement. Under the treaty, the US is obliged to defend Japan, but Japan is not required to offer similar security guarantees to the US. 'We have a great relationship with Japan, but we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us,' Trump said after signing an executive order in the Oval Office. Trump also expressed frustration over Japan's economic advantages, stating, 'They make a fortune with us economically,' before questioning, 'I actually asked who makes these deals?' The President's comments are likely to fuel concerns in Japan about a potential push from the US for a revised security or trade deal. Japan, which has so far avoided becoming a direct target of tariffs, has a significant trade surplus with the US, which may contribute to Trump's dissatisfaction. Trump's remarks echo earlier complaints made during his first term in office, when he reportedly considered withdrawing from the treaty due to its perceived imbalance. In response, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi reiterated the importance of the US-Japan alliance, stressing Japan's confidence that the US would fulfill its security obligations, including the use of its nuclear capabilities, under the treaty. The US-Japan Security Treaty, signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, allows the US to station military forces in Japan in exchange for a commitment to defend Japan if it is attacked. The treaty was initially signed as part of US efforts to counter the communist bloc during the Cold War, and it remains crucial as tensions rise in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly due to China's growing military presence and North Korea's nuclear threat. Currently, approximately 60,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan, making it home to the largest overseas US military presence. Despite Japan's pacifist constitution, which prohibits involvement in foreign conflicts, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relaxed restrictions on Japan's military ten years ago, allowing it to assist in defending allies near Japan. Trump's criticism comes amid ongoing concerns raised by Japan's Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who has suggested an imbalance in the military relationship, with the US benefiting more. Ishiba has also proposed that Japan's military establish training bases in the US. While Japan contributes financially to the upkeep of US military bases on its soil, contributing approximately ¥430 billion ($2.9 billion) last year, Trump has previously pressed Japan to increase its annual contribution to $8 billion. The US-Japan Security Treaty remains a cornerstone of the US's military strategy in Asia and is likely to remain a topic of ongoing discussion in the years ahead.
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Criticizes Security Treaty With Japan as Uneven
(Bloomberg) -- US President Donald Trump on Thursday criticized the US-Japan Security Treaty, highlighting how the US is obliged to protect Japan under the agreement but Japan does not offer the same security guarantees in return. Trump Administration Plans to Eliminate Dozens of Housing Offices Republican Mayor Braces for Tariffs: 'We Didn't Budget for This' NJ College to Merge With State School After Financial Stress How Upzoning in Cambridge Broke the YIMBY Mold NYC's Finances Are Sinking With Gauge Falling to 11-Year Low 'We have a great relationship with Japan, but we have an interesting deal with Japan that we have to protect them, but they don't have to protect us,' Trump said to reporters after signing an executive order in the Oval Office. 'And by the way, they make a fortune with us economically,' Trump added, before voicing his grievance with a question: 'I actually asked who makes these deals?' Trump's displeasure with the treaty is likely to stoke fears in Japan that he will eventually set his sights on extracting a security or trade deal from Japan, which has so far managed to avoid being a direct tariff target. The country's trade surplus against the US is likely to remain a source of irritation for the US president. The comments echo similar complaints made by Trump during his first term. He is said to have mused about withdrawing from the treaty given the perceived imbalance. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi stressed the importance of the longstanding Japan-US alliance in a regular press briefing held Friday. 'We have the utmost confidence that the US will use all its capabilities, including its nuclear capabilities, to fulfill its obligations under the Japan-US Security Treaty,' he said. Hayashi also touched on a separate law that interprets Japan's self-defense rules to be applied to collective self-defense, saying that it 'has enabled Japan and the US to seamlessly assist each other in any situation in order to protect Japan.' First signed in 1951 and revised in 1960, the security treaty grants the US the right to base military forces in Japan in exchange for the promise that America will defend the nation if it is ever attacked. The treaty was signed as part of the US strategic interest in maintaining a foothold against the communist bloc in Asia during the Cold War, and has remained in place as the region's security becomes increasingly tense with China's military ambitions and the threat of a nuclear-armed North Korea. It also serves as the basis for the largest overseas US military presence in the world, with some 60,000 military members currently stationed in Japan, according to US Forces Japan. Japan has a pacifist clause in its constitution that effectively bars the nation from getting involved in foreign conflicts, but a decade ago Prime Minister Shinzo Abe loosened restrictions to allow Japan's military to help defend allies when they are under attack near Japan. Trump's comments come after current Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has also expressed concerns about an imbalance in the military relationship between Japan and the US, albeit in favor of the US. Ishiba has raised the idea that the Japanese military should have bases in the US for training purposes. Japan foots some of the bill of maintaining US bases on its land, earmarking some ¥430 billion ($2.9 billion) from its government budget last year. But whether that is enough has also been a point of contention in the past, with Trump reportedly pressuring Tokyo to increase its annual contribution to $8 billion. Snack Makers Are Removing Fake Colors From Processed Foods An All-American Finance Empire Drew Billions—and a Regulator's Attention The Mysterious Billionaire Behind the World's Most Popular Vapes Rich People Are Firing a Cash Cannon at the US Economy—But at What Cost? Greenland Voters Weigh Their Election's Most Important Issue: Trump ©2025 Bloomberg L.P.
