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
Yemeni Armed Forces Spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree: Our air defenses are currently engaging Israeli aircraft that are launching an aggression against our country
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli raids target the port of Hodeidah
IOF issues evacuation order for neighborhoods in Hodeidah, Yemen.
Rubio: 'Very short window', maybe days, for Hamas to accept deal
Al Mayadeen correspondent to southern Lebanon: Israeli warplanes launched a raid on the Ksar Zaatar neighborhood in western Nabatieh.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: The tower destroyed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza includes media offices, including Al Mayadeen's bureau.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in Gaza: Four fetuses and three premature babies died at Nasser Medical Complex due to malnutrition
Lebanese Ministry of Health: One person was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a car in the town of Burj Qalawieh, south Lebanon.
Al Mayadeen correspondent: The first ship of the Maghreb fleet delivering aid to break the siege on Gaza departs from the port of Gammarth in Tunisia.
Channel 12: Airspace closed at Ramon Airport due to fears of drone infiltration

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

NYT: China responds to Trump's tariffs via adaptation, leverage

'Israel’s' Qatar strike backfires, fueling diplomatic fallout

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

The damaged building in the Katara neighborhood, Doha, Qatar, September 9, 2025 (Social media)

Hamas delegation survives Israeli assassination attempt in Qatar

  • Politics
  • 9 Sep 2025
Pro-"Israel" conservative Charlie Kirk shot during Utah speech

American far-right activist Charlie Kirk shot dead during Utah speech

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025
Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza.

Uprising against Volker Turk at the Human Rights Council over Gaza

  • Politics
  • 12 Sep 2025
A screengrab from the ad played on Fox News. (X Screengrab)

Fox airs ad warning Trump not to let Netanyahu 'play' him on Gaza

  • US & Canada
  • 11 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
'Israel’s' Qatar strike backfires, fueling diplomatic fallout
Politics

'Israel’s' Qatar strike backfires, fueling diplomatic fallout

'Israel' committing genocide in Gaza, UN Commission declares
Politics

'Israel' committing genocide in Gaza, UN Commission declares

Rubio supports Gaza offensive, warns few days left for diplomacy
Palestine

Rubio supports Gaza occupation, warns of tight window for deal

US adds Colombia to drug list, drawing Petro’s rebuke
Politics

US adds Colombia to drug list, drawing Petro’s rebuke

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