Overview

• US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasizes 'robust, ready, and credible deterrence' in the Indo-Pacific, including the Taiwan Strait, during talks in Japan.
• The US-Japan alliance is reaffirmed as the cornerstone of peace and security in the region, addressing severe and urgent security challenges.
• China's military actions around Taiwan, including frequent air incursions, are described as aggressive and coercive by US officials.
• Japan is increasing its defense spending to 2% of GDP and adopting counterstrike capabilities as part of its evolving defense posture.
• The US maintains a significant military presence in Japan, with 54,000 personnel primarily stationed in Okinawa, underscoring the strategic importance of the alliance.