Japan and US to Build Shared Missile Plant in Japan

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced on Wednesday that Japan and the United States will build a new facility in Japan for the joint production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. The two nations agreed to create a final assembly and inspection plant for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, known as AMRAAM. Koizumi stated that these missiles are essential for the F-35 fighter jets used by both militaries. The project, designated Operation Supercharge, aims to increase the production capacity of the weapons.

The announcement came during a news conference in Cebu, Philippines, where Koizumi met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The leaders were attending an annual gathering of Southeast Asian defense chiefs and their counterparts from major Asian and Western nations. Koizumi described the meeting as a chance to strengthen deterrence and response capabilities with greater speed and intensity. He said the two sides shared a sense of crisis regarding the regional situation and reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Koizumi also addressed Chinese naval activity in southwestern Japan on Thursday. He reported that three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait south of Kyushu and headed east to the Pacific Ocean earlier this week. His ministry identified this specific fleet configuration for the first time. Koizumi cited the incident as an example of the challenging security environment in the region and said his ministry would continue to monitor the activity closely. Japan has been accelerating military buildup in southwestern Japan to deter China.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth addressed ASEAN defense ministers in a separate session on Wednesday. The group was led by Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Hegseth reiterated the Trump administration's commitment to help deter aggression in the region without naming China directly. He described the U.S. approach as strong, quiet, and clear. He stated that the strategy is strong enough to deter coercion, quiet enough to avoid needless escalation, and clear enough that partners and adversaries understand where the United States stands.

Hegseth assured the Philippines that the U.S. will build a robust deterrence against China's actions in the disputed South China Sea. Washington has warned it is obligated to defend the Philippines if its forces come under armed attack. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke in Cebu, saying his country will continue to defend the rule of law in the Pacific despite Chinese assertiveness. He referenced a previous incident where a Chinese fighter aircraft passed within 30 meters of an Australian surveillance jet. The annual meetings aim to avert major regional conflict and strengthen defense cooperation among the participating nations.