In one of the biggest upgrades to the U.S.-Japan alliance since its inception, the U.S. will revamp its command in Japan, giving it a ¡°direct leadership role¡± over American forces in operational planning in both peacetime and in potential crises, the countries¡¯ defense chiefs and top diplomats announced Sunday, as the allies¡¯ look to counter what they say is an increasingly assertive China.
The announcement, which came after ¡°two-plus-two¡± talks between Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and their U.S. counterparts, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, was among a number of fresh defense and security initiatives unveiled after the meeting, the first since January last year.
¡°The United States will upgrade the U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities,¡± Austin told a joint news conference after the meeting. ¡°This will be the most significant change to U.S. Forces Japan since its creation ¡ª one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years.¡±
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