US and Japan to Build Joint Missile Plant in Japan

Three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait this week. This was the first time Japanese officials observed that specific fleet configuration. The incident occurred south of Kyushu and headed toward the Pacific Ocean. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi cited the event to describe the current security environment.

Koizumi announced the missile agreement on Wednesday night in Cebu, Philippines. He made the statement at a news conference after meeting U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The two leaders met on the sidelines of an annual gathering of Southeast Asian defense chiefs. The meeting included major Asian and Western counterparts.

The United States and Japan will build a facility in Japan for joint production. The plant will handle final assembly and inspection. The missile involved is the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM. Koizumi stated that the missiles are essential for F-35 fighter jets. The F-35 is one of the world's most advanced aircraft. The Japanese military also uses the jet.

The joint effort is called Operation Supercharge. Koizumi said the two sides agreed to move with greater speed and intensity. He described the regional situation as increasingly severe. The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of a free and open international order. They rejected attempts to alter the status quo through force or coercion.

Hegseth spoke separately with ASEAN defense ministers on Wednesday. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. led the group of Southeast Asian representatives. Hegseth did not mention China by name during the session. He described the U.S. approach as strong, quiet, and clear. He said the strategy must be strong enough to deter aggression. It must also be quiet enough to avoid needless escalation.

Hegseth told the ministers that actions should speak for themselves. He said the message must be clear to friends, partners, and adversaries. He stated that the United States will defend its interests and those of its allies. The Trump administration has repeatedly assured the Philippines of this commitment. The Philippines is the oldest treaty ally of Washington in Asia.

Washington has warned it is obligated to defend the Philippines. This protection applies if Filipino forces come under armed attack. This includes attacks in the South China Sea. Beijing claims the waterway virtually in its entirety. The waterway is a key global trade route. Other nations with claims in the area include Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke in Cebu. He said Australian forces and allies will press on with efforts to defend the rule of law. Australia protested last year after a Chinese J-16 fighter released flares near an Australian P-8 Poseidon jet. The Chinese aircraft passed within 30 meters of the surveillance jet. Marles called freedom of navigation on the high seas profoundly important for Australia.

Confrontations have escalated in the South China Sea. Chinese and Philippine vessels have clashed in disputed shoals. Beijing and Tokyo also have a separate dispute. They argue over tiny Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Both sides often accuse the other of infringing on maritime territory.

Japan has been accelerating its military buildup in the southwest. The goal is to deter China. Koizumi said his ministry will keep watching Chinese activity with a high level of interest. He called the recent naval crossing an example of the challenging environment. The annual meetings aim to avert major regional conflict. They also aim to strengthen defense cooperation between nations.