Japan’s new security policy has “unified” support in U.S., says envoy
U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel on Tuesday praised Japan’s new security strategy as “momentous,” stressing that the key Asian ally’s moves to build up its defense had “unified” bipartisan and bicameral support within the United States.
Emanuel said Japan’s new strategic vision “very much aligned with our vision,” adding that the United States would fully cooperate with Tokyo in acquiring so-called counterstrike capabilities amid China’s rise and North Korean threats.
In a major shift in its security policy under its pacifist Constitution, the Japanese government has decided to acquire strike capabilities that could potentially reach an adversary’s territory and set a target of doubling its annual defense budget to about 2 percent of its gross domestic product over the next five years.
Highlighting that a year ago China was not launching missiles into Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and North Korea’s provocations were not as frequent, Emanuel stressed that an increase in Japan’s defense spending and adoption of a new security strategy reflects “the changing environment.”
The Japanese government last Friday revamped three of its key security and defense-related documents, forging ahead with its biggest defense buildup program since World War II.
“With the exception of events such as Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, no country has seen such a strong, unified show of support from Congress, the White House, and the administration as Japan has for its new defense policy,” Emanuel said in reference to the effusive praise U.S. President Joe Biden and other government officials gave shortly after the announcement.
Emanuel reiterated that Washington would support Japan in all facets of its self-defense, whether it be cybersecurity, counterstrike capability, or ensuring that the nation’s Coast Guard is able to “defend the Senkaku Islands and ward off the constant harassment by China’s Navy.”
Japan has been hardening its stance toward China as Beijing has stepped up its territorial claims in neighboring waters including the Senkakus, a group of East China Sea islets controlled by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.
The ambassador also touched on the strength of Japan’s soft power in the Indo-Pacific region, stating the “tremendous role” Tokyo has to play in the face of increasing challenges posed by China.