WASHINGTON -- The Japanese and U.S. governments clearly showed Wednesday a resolve to boost defense capabilities in the Nansei Islands, which span Kyushu and Okinawa Prefecture, amid lingering concerns that a contingency could occur regarding Taiwan.
At the 2-plus-2 defense talks of their foreign and defense chiefs, formally known as the Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee, the allies agreed to enhance "interoperable capabilities" to meet security challenges and bolster efforts to establish a system providing enhanced deterrence against China.
The Japan-U.S. alliance will enter a new phase as Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin agreed to step up work on the division of roles between the U.S. military and the Self-Defense Forces, which will acquire counterattack capabilities.
