Hegseth Hails Japan's Arms Increase    10/29 06:21

   U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday welcomed Japan's 
determination to accelerate its ongoing military buildup and defense spending.

   TOKYO (AP) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday welcomed 
Japan's determination to accelerate its ongoing military buildup and defense 
spending.

   During a visit to Japan, Hegseth said he hopes to see those pledges 
implemented as soon as possible, noting China's increasingly assertive military 
activity.

   "The threats we face are real, and they are urgent. China's unprecedented 
military buildup and its aggressive military actions speak for themselves," he 
said. "Make no mistake about it, our alliance is critical to deterring Chinese 
military aggression, to responding to regional contingencies, and keeping our 
countries safe."

   Hegseth said he was "glad" to see Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi -- 
speaking alongside U.S. President Donald Trump this week -- make a commitment 
to increase Japan's defense spending, calling it "wonderful."

   He said the U.S. government had not demanded Japan's spending increase.

   His comment comes a day after Takaichi, who became prime minister only last 
week, explained to Trump during their first summit that her government will 
raise Japan's defense spending to 2% of its gross national product by March, 
two years ahead of initially planned. Japan also plans to revise its ongoing 
national security strategy several years ahead of schedule.

   "It's an important step forward, and one that we hope would be implemented 
and believe will be as soon as possible," Hegseth told a joint news conference 
after holding talks with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. "The 
result, through our shared strength, will deter threats."

   "We're going to invest now and invest quickly while we still have time," 
Hegseth said.

   Koizumi welcomed the agreement between the two governments to move up 
deliveries of U.S.-made Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM, 
though he did not give further details.

   Japan is seeking to create a more self-sufficient military as a deterrence 
against China's increasingly assertive military activity in the region, and has 
concentrated on defense buildup on its southwestern islands. Japan also has 
concerns about the rising tensions caused by North Korea and Russia.

   Japan has already moved up a planned deployment of its medium and long-range 
missiles such as Tomahawk and Japanese-made Tupe-12 anti-ship missiles.

   These efforts mark a historic shift from Japan's longstanding policy of 
limiting use of force to self-defense only under a pacifist Constitution 
written after World War II.

   It made a major break from that policy under the 2022 security strategy that 
calls for more offensive roles for Japan's Self-Defense Forces and easing 
restrictions on arms exports. The Takaichi government is also seeking to 
further relax weapons transfers.