Washington, Jan. 7 (BNA): After a hypothetical meeting of the US-Japan Security Advisory Committee on Thursday evening, officials from the two countries said that the United States and Japan wish to enhance their security cooperation.
Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said in a statement that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke with Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi.
They reaffirmed the critical importance of the US-Japan alliance as “the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Austin and Blinken committed to continuing close cooperation with their Japanese partners to modernize and strengthen the US-Japan alliance.
Referring to Chinese ambitions in the Indo-Pacific region, Hayashi said it was “more important than ever” that Japan and the United States “are united and show leadership” in the face of a number of challenges.
It is important to use new means to respond to threats from countries that are trying to undermine the rules-based international order, Blinkeid was quoted by Japan’s Kyodo news agency as saying, referring to China and North Korea.
On Wednesday, Japan also agreed to boost military cooperation with Australia. Both allies of the United States want to facilitate joint exercises.
The United States, Japan, India and Australia make up the so-called Quartet. The four countries want to expand their involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, an area where China has sought to expand its influence.
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