US, Japan extend defense deal to space amid concern over China

USA Y Japan agreed on Wednesday that their security and defense treaty would apply to space, and announced the deployment of a more agile marine infantry unit on allied soil, amid growing concerns over China.

Weeks after unveiling his plans to increase defense spending, Japan sent its defense and foreign ministers to Washington, and the two countries issued a joint statement vowing to “modernize the alliance to address the increasingly intense security environment.”

LOOK: US simulations estimate that China would fail to invade Taiwan

The talks come two days before Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visits the United States. as part of a tour of the Group of Seven countries to inaugurate Japan’s presidency this year of the select club of industrial democracies.

According China makes rapid advances in satellites, The United States and Japan warned in their statement that “attacks into, from, or within space present a clear challenge to the security of the alliance,” that it could invoke Article Five of their mutual defense treaty, which provides that an attack on one is taken as an attack on both.

The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd AustinHe reported that The United States will deploy a new mobile unit of Marines on the island of Okinawain the south of Japan and strategically close to Taiwan, to strengthen the country’s defense.

LOOK: China defends that reunification with Taiwan is a “noble cause”

“We are going to replace an artillery regiment with this force that will be more lethal and more mobile” by 2025, declared Austin.

“We agree that the People’s Republic of China is the greatest common strategic challenge facing us, our allies and our partners,” For his part, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, declared at a press conference with his Japanese counterpart, as well as with the defense ministers of the two countries.

The Foreign Minister, Yoshimasa Hayashi, I affirm that The United States and Japan together have “the vision of a modernized alliance to acquire the position that allows us to win in the new era of strategic competition.”

Risks for Taiwan

Okinawa is home to more than half of Washington’s 50,000 troops in the Japanese archipelago.

Hayashi stated that the Japanese government would continue to work to address residents’ concerns.

LOOK: China used 71 fighter jets in its military exercises over the weekend near Taiwan

The meeting comes weeks after Tokyo announced a major review of its defense doctrine.

Japan’s calculation has changed while China is under the presidency of Xi Jinping.

Japanwho has rated China of “unprecedented strategic challenge” to its security, approved a review in December that includes a huge increase in military spending over five years.

This is an important turning point for the country, whose pacifist constitution, adopted after its defeat in World War II, prohibits it in principle from having a full-fledged army.

China claims Taiwan, a self-governing democracy, as part of its territory and last year carried out moves seen as a rehearsal for an invasion, following a defiant visit to Taipei by Nancy Pelosi, then Speaker of the US House of Representatives.

“I am not going to question Mr. Xi, but what I will tell him is that what we are seeing recently is very provocative behavior by Chinese forces,” Austin stated.

“We think they are striving to establish a new normal, but whether or not that means an invasion is imminent, you know, I seriously doubt it,” he said.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told a press briefing on Thursday that “in carrying out bilateral military cooperation, the United States and Japan must ensure that it does not harm the interests of a third party or the peace.” and regional stability.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.