Challenge China .. The most prominent messages of the US Secretary of Defense during his visit to Japan

US Defense Minister Beit Higseth said on Sunday in Tokyo that the United States will maintain a reliable and solid deterrent force in the Asia Pacific region, including the Taiwan Strait, describing the growing Chinese maneuvers around the autonomous island as aggressive.
“The United States is committed to maintaining a reliable, durable and ready -made deterrent force to move in the Indian and Pacific region, including via the Taiwan Strait,” Higseth confirmed after talks in Tokyo with his Japanese counterpart Gain Nakatani.

The visit of the US Secretary of Defense to Japan

“We discussed the delicate and emergency security situation around Japan,” he added during a press conference.
In recent years, Beijing has intensified its military pressure on Taiwan through its almost daily air penetration around the island, which China is preparing an integral part of its land, pledging to restore it by force if necessary.
“The United States cannot withdraw (from the region) because this is in its basic interest. If Taiwan falls and the Chinese Communist Party seized it, what will be the situation of Japan and the Philippines?”

US -Japanese relations

But Japan still depends on the United States in security affairs, with 54,000 American soldiers stationed in the archipelago, especially in Okinawa, in eastern Taiwan.
But under the policy of “America First” adopted by the administration of Republican President Donald Trump, the United States’ allies in Europe, as in Asia, feel anxious about the decline in American commitment.
“We have an interesting agreement with Japan: We have to protect them, but it is not required of them to protect us. Who will conclude such agreements?”

Japan’s military armament

Washington is urging its allies to increase their military spending significantly, with the target of 2 % of the gross domestic product of the NATO member states.
After she abandoned her peaceful policy, Tokyo is now seeking to equip herself with the capabilities of an anti -attack, and to double her military spending, also reaching 2 % of GDP. But her American ally may ask her to go further.
“We have not talked about specific numbers. We are convinced that Japan will make the right decisions regarding the necessary capabilities within our alliance to ensure our unit.”

Promote the defensive capabilities of Japan

“Japan was a typical ally, but we both realize that everyone should do more,” he added.
Japanese Defense Minister Gain Nakatani said on Sunday that Tokyo “is constantly working to greatly enhance defense capabilities.”
“It is clear to me that our Japanese -American alliance is the cornerstone of peace and security” in the Asia Pacific region.