The "2 plus 2" talks between the foreign and defense ministers of the United States and Japan issued a joint statement, affirming the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and referring to China as the biggest strategic challenge.

(Bloomberg)

[Central News Agency] The "2 plus 2" talks between the foreign and defense ministers of the United States and Japan were held in Washington DC yesterday and a joint statement was issued, affirming the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and referring to China as the biggest strategic challenge.

The fact that the United States and Japan have a "counterattack capability" against Japan will deepen cooperation.

US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold talks at the White House on the morning of the 13th Washington time (early morning of the 14th Taiwan time).

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, and Japanese Defense Minister Yasuichi Hamada held the 2+2 talks in Washington DC yesterday.

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In view of Russia's aggression against Ukraine and China's increased military pressure on Taiwan since February last year, the US and Japan have had in-depth discussions on how to respond and issued a joint statement.

In December last year, Japan decided on a new version of the national security strategy and other security 3 documents (defense 3 documents). This US-Japan 2+2 meeting is the first time that the two sides have confirmed specific security cooperation.

The joint statement of the U.S.-Japan 2+2 talks shows that the U.S. supports Japan's "counterattack capability" to attack enemy missile bases, and Japan will work closely with the U.S., including defense equipment and use.

The joint statement records that China's foreign policy is to customize the international order for China's own interests and attempt to change it.

The content also pointed out that China has attempted to change the status quo in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, and China has become the biggest strategic challenge in the Indo-Pacific region.

Regarding China's actions, the U.S. and Japan will respond with the concept of "integrated deterrence" advocated by the Biden administration.

Japan's Southwest Islands are adjacent to Taiwan, and the United States and Japan will also strengthen their defenses against Japan's Southwest Islands.

The joint statement records that the United States and Japan will expand the use of bases, airports, harbors and other facilities that are commonly used by the United States and Japan.

In order to improve the deterrence and response capabilities of the United States against China, the 12th Marine Company of the US Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan will be reorganized into the "Marine Littoral Regiment" (MLR) by 2025, which can quickly respond to incidents on outlying islands. ).

If the islands are invaded, the U.S. military will stay on the front-line islands to carry out operations such as anti-ship missiles.

The joint statement pointed out that with regard to security in the space field, based on the fact that attacks in space are a clear challenge to the security of the alliance, the United States and Japan have also confirmed that under certain circumstances, space will become the applicable object of Article 5 of the Japan-US Security Treaty.

If Japan's artificial satellite is attacked, the United States and Japan will use force to confront.

Regarding China, the joint statement pointed out that in the East China Sea where the Diaoyutai Islands (known as the Senkaku Islands in Japan) are located, China attempted to change the status quo unilaterally. Both the United States and Japan strongly opposed China's approach.

Regarding Russia's aggression against Ukraine, both the United States and Japan believe that this is fundamental to shaking the international order.

In addition, the United States and Japan have strong concerns about North Korea's frequent ballistic missile tests, and the United States, Japan and South Korea must cooperate in response.

Japan's Asahi Shimbun reported that for China, the biggest focus is "Taiwan," the core dispute between the United States and China.

At the joint press conference after the US-Japan 2+2 talks, Blinken said: "Both the US and Japan believe that China is the biggest and common strategic challenge the US and Japan face." Austin pointed out at the press conference that the Communist Army continues to be in Taiwan The surrounding area made provocative actions and criticized China for trying to create a new normal.

The report said that once China invaded Taiwan by force, it would be a security crisis for Japan, which has a US military base.

In August last year, China carried out a military exercise, and a ballistic missile landed in Japan's exclusive economic zone. Therefore, the US-Japan 2+2 talks will discuss how to respond to China and improve rapid response and deterrence.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported that in response to Taiwan's incident (referring to China's possible invasion of Taiwan by force), Hamada said that in order to maximize the deterrence and response capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance, Japan's defense will be thoroughly strengthened, and the U.S. and Japan will conduct more effective cooperation. The division of labor and cooperation to strengthen emergency response capabilities.

The report said that the U.S. Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa will be reorganized into the "Marine Corps Littoral Combat Regiment", which is a force of about 1,800 to 2,000 people. Composed of air defense brigades, etc., it can be dispersed on a small scale, and deployed to outlying islands to prevent the entry and exit of enemy ships and military aircraft, and play a role in ensuring sea control.

The "Marine Corps Littoral Combat Regiment" plans to have three units. The first unit was established in Hawaii, the United States last March. The second unit is scheduled to be established in Okinawa. The third unit is likely to be deployed in Guam, the United States.

According to the report, it is generally believed that when something happens in Taiwan, China’s military strategy is to prevent the United States from fighting on China’s side of the “Second Island Chain” from Izu Islands in Japan to Guam in the United States, and to build a military strategy within the “First Island Chain”. Anti-access/Area Denial (A2/AD) capabilities that keep U.S. troops out.

China is strengthening its missile capabilities to make it difficult for U.S. ships to approach. The deployment of the U.S. Marine Corps Littoral Combat Regiment in Okinawa will become a trump card to deter China.

The U.S.-Japan 2+2 talks reached an agreement that the U.S. military will set up a new army small landing ship unit (about 13 ships, 280 people) at the U.S. military facility "Yokohama North Dock" (Yokohama North Dock) in Yokohama this spring. The location is also reliable, transporting a large amount of supplies.

Japan is strengthening its defense capabilities focused on defending Japan's southwestern archipelago.

Japan's new defense preparation plan shows that Japan's 15th Ground Self-Defense Force Brigade (about 2,200 people) deployed in Naha City, Okinawa Prefecture will be upgraded to a division of about 3,000 people.

The other 8 divisions and 5 brigades in Japan will be deployed on a mobile basis, and when necessary, their combat power will be concentrated on protecting the Southwest Islands.

In order to strengthen its transportation and supply capabilities on the islands, Japan will reorganize its maritime transportation force and substantially increase its transport ships and transport aircraft.

In addition, ammunition depots and supply bases in the southwestern region will also be rebuilt.

The U.S. military privately asked Japan to strengthen its supply capabilities to support the continued war. During the U.S.-Japan 2+2 talks, the two sides agreed that the U.S. and Japan would jointly use the gunpowder depots in the Kadena ammunition depot area of ​​the U.S. military stationed in Japan (located in Yomitan Village, Okinawa Prefecture, etc.).

The report said that the U.S. and Japan are eager to shift their military resources to the Southwest Islands, mainly because they share a common sense of urgency for the occurrence of "something to do with Taiwan."

A Japanese Self-Defense Force cadre pointed out that the question is not whether "something in Taiwan" will happen, but when it will happen.