Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Head of the Russian delegation to the talks in Turkey: The Russian-Ukrainian talks yielded good results.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: Martyrs and wounded after an IOF aircraft bombed a house in Tal al-Zaatar, north of the Gaza Strip.
Libya: The Libyan Ministry of Health declares a state of maximum emergency in all hospitals to support medical staff working in Tripoli and its suburbs.
Libya: Demonstrations in several Libyan cities demand the overthrow of the Dbeibah government.
Italian Foreign Ministry: We are following developments in Libya with concern and reiterate our call for all parties to return to calm and dialogue.
Libya: Demonstration in Bani Walid calls for the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and holding it accountable.
Libya: Sabratha Municipal Council supports the overthrow of the Dbeibah government and calls on it to leave.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The IOF is carrying out massive bombing operations in the northern Gaza Strip.
Tunisian Foreign Ministry: We renew our call for an immediate end to the escalation in all parts of Libya.
Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs: We express our deep concern over the dangerous security developments in the Libyan capital.

US plans to upgrade its military command structure in Japan

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 28 Jul 2024 08:42
  • 1 Shares
3 Min Read

The US is expected to reveal a new Joint Force Headquarters in Japan to counter "China's influence" in the region.

Listen
  • x
  • U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara exchange documents of their partnership after a Japan-US-South Korea trilateral defense meeting at Japan's defense ministry, July 28, 2024. (AP)
    US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara exchange documents of their partnership after a Japan-US-South Korea trilateral defense meeting at Japan's Defense Ministry, on July 28, 2024. (AP)

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was scheduled to announce an enhancement of the US command structure in Japan on Sunday, as Washington and Tokyo revamp military cooperation to counter China's rapid development.

The US currently has about 54,000 military personnel in Japan who report to the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, which is approximately 6,500 kilometers away and 19 hours behind. However, Austin, along with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was attending "2+2" talks with Japanese counterparts in Tokyo, was expected to reveal the establishment of a new Joint Force Headquarters led by a three-star commander, according to a US military official.

This new command will align with Japan's planned Joint Operations Command for all its armed forces, enhancing the agility of both militaries in the event of a crisis involving Taiwan or the Korean peninsula.

The discussions between Japan and the US were also set to explore the development of Washington's "extended deterrence" commitment, which includes using military capabilities, such as nuclear weapons, to defend Japan.

Related News

Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya

'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks

According to Naoko Aoki, a political scientist at the RAND Corporation, Japan has been unsettled by China's military modernization, DPRK's nuclear and missile activities, and nuclear threats observed during the Ukraine war.

Speaking with AFP, Aoki stated, "[It] is important for the United States to reassure Japan of its commitment and signal to potential adversaries that the alliance remains strong and that the United States is committed to using nuclear weapons if necessary to defend Japan." 

On Monday, Blinken and Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa will meet with their Indian and Australian counterparts, S. Jaishankar and Penny Wong, as part of the Quad alliance, which is viewed as a counterbalance to "China's influence".

Nuclear weapons included in methods US will vow to use to defend Japan

This comes after a bilateral meeting between both nations decided to draft their first joint document on expanded deterrence policy, which will include a clause affirming the United States' commitment to defend Japan by various means, including nuclear weapons, Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reported, citing sources.

The document, as per the newspaper, will outline both nations' positions on implementing deterrence policy and will specify the US determination to enhance regional deterrence for Japan, detailing the measures Washington can employ in both peacetime and potential emergencies.
 
The document will also detail the scenarios under which the United States can retaliate against third countries on behalf of Japan and outline potential responses, according to the newspaper.

In 2010, the Japanese and US governments created the Extended Deterrence Dialogue to explore methods for maintaining and enhancing extended deterrence. They began to hold regular consultations on this matter, involving officials responsible for foreign policy and defense affairs.

  • United States
  • Japan
  • Taiwan
  • Lloyd Austin
  • China

Most Read

Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

Gaza and the logic of necropolitics: Sovereignty measured by killing

  • Politics
  • 15 May 2025
Abu Obaida

Abu Obeida posts shortly after Israeli reports about his assassination

  • Palestine
  • 15 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza
MENA

Israeli media: Yemen may push 'Israel' towards ceasefire in Gaza

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Trump administration planning to send 1 million Palestinians to Libya

President Donald Trump greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' concerned, says US withholding info about indirect Iran talks

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the annual ceremony at the Yad LaBanim Memorial in occupied al-Quds on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Netanyahu cancels Vatican visit over fears of ICC arrest

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS