Washington, DC [US], April 23 (ANI): Reinforcing the US military presence and strategic posture in Japan is a “top priority” for the Department of Defense as Washington seeks to bolster deterrence in the Indo-Pacific amid China’s rising influence, Kyodo News reported.
John Noh, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told the House Armed Services Committee that the United States remains committed to the region but cannot shoulder security alone. “The U.S. military cannot and should not alone sustain a favourable balance of power, which is fundamentally in our regional allies and partners’ interests,” he said.
Noh said the Pentagon is urging allies and partners to take a more active role in collective defence and to share the burden of restoring and sustaining deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. He expects “wealthy and capable” partners to increase defence spending, suggesting a move toward a “global standard of 3.5 per cent” of GDP.
The official outlined plans for a “strong denial defence” along the first island chain east of China’s coast — an area that includes Japan, Taiwan and the Philippines. While expressing optimism about Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s commitment to strengthen Japan’s military, Noh warned that “there is still more work to do” to reach the desired regional security posture. (ANI)
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