TOKYO: Tokyo and Washington are working toward confirming the reorganisation of US Forces Japan into a joint force headquarters, and their defense chiefs are set to agree to start transitional work at a meeting on Sunday (March 31), according to Japanese government sources.
With an eye on China, Japan and the United States are looking to strengthen cooperation between the Self-Defence Forces (SDF) and US forces stationed in Japan.
During the meeting at the Defense Ministry, Defence Minister Gen Nakatani and US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are also expected to agree on opposing Beijing’s attempts to change the status quo in the East China Sea.
As part of the reorganisation of US Forces Japan, a proposal has been floated to establish a team within the US forces in Japan that will liaise with the SDF.
On Monday, the SDF’s Joint Operations Command was launched. If the joint force headquarters is set up, the command will serve as its Japanese counterpart. The command is expected to share operational information with US forces.
On March 19, US media reported that the Pentagon was considering cancelling the plan to strengthen cooperation between US forces in Japan and the SDF as part of cost-cutting measures. However, Nakatani has said that there will be no change in Japan’s policy of reinforcing cooperation with the United States. During the meeting with Hegseth, he plans to stress that Japan will proceed with the reorganisation plan as scheduled.
At the meeting, the two sides are also expected to confirm the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as well as the need to increase Japan’s and the United States’ presence on the Nansei Islands. Nakatani and Hegseth are also expected to agree to work steadily toward relocating US Marines from Okinawa Prefecture to the US territory of Guam, and on relocating the US Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, to the Henoko district of Nago, also in the prefecture.
With President Donald Trump demanding US allies increase their defence spending, Nakatani plans to explain Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defence capabilities and seek the United States’ understanding. - The Japan News/ANN
