Hegseth on Japan’s Army Spending Raise: ‘US-Japan Alliance Key to Deter China’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Japan’s plans to accelerate its defense spending and military buildup during a visit to Tokyo. The move is aimed at countering China’s growing military aggression in the region. Japan will now reach its 2% defense spending goal by March, two years ahead of schedule.
Japan Defense Spending Quick Looks
- U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits Japan amid rising Asia-Pacific tensions.
- He welcomes Japan’s accelerated defense spending plan and military buildup.
- Japan will raise defense spending to 2% of GDP by March 2026.
- The increase aims to deter China’s growing military presence in the region.
- Japan is expanding missile deployments and easing arms export restrictions.
- Defense talks include advancing U.S. missile deliveries to Japan.
- Japan’s shift marks a break from its post-WWII pacifist defense posture.
- The Takaichi government is pushing broader strategic military reforms.
Deep Look: Hegseth Praises Japan’s Swift Defense Buildup as Key to Deterring China
TOKYO — October 29, 2025 — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday commended Japan’s accelerated defense spending plans and broader military modernization as essential to deterring China’s military aggression. During his visit to Tokyo, Hegseth underscored the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance as regional tensions continue to escalate.
“The threats we face are real, and they are urgent,” Hegseth said at a joint news conference with Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi. “China’s unprecedented military buildup and its aggressive military actions speak for themselves. Our alliance is critical to deterring Chinese military aggression, responding to regional contingencies, and keeping our countries safe.”
Hegseth applauded Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s recent announcement — made in a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump — that Japan will raise its defense spending to 2% of its gross national product (GNP) by March 2026. That move accelerates Japan’s previous goal by two years and signifies a stronger commitment to shared regional security objectives.
The defense secretary noted that the decision was Japan’s own and not the result of U.S. pressure. “We didn’t demand it, but we welcome it,” Hegseth said, adding that early implementation of Japan’s military plans would significantly bolster collective deterrence efforts.
Japan’s New Security Strategy
Hegseth’s Tokyo visit comes as Japan undergoes a significant shift in its postwar defense policy. Under its revised national security strategy — first updated in 2022 and now scheduled for another early revision — Japan is pivoting from a strictly self-defense posture to a more proactive military stance.
This transformation includes bolstering defensive capabilities on its southwestern islands and deploying both U.S.-made and domestically developed medium- and long-range missiles, including Tomahawk cruise missiles and Type-12 anti-ship missiles.
Japan’s moves are widely seen as a direct response to increasing regional threats from China, as well as persistent tensions with North Korea and Russia. The broader strategy also reflects a new willingness to export arms and expand Japan’s role in collective defense.
“This is an important step forward,” Hegseth emphasized. “The result, through our shared strength, will deter threats.”
Defense Minister Koizumi echoed the sentiment and announced that both nations have agreed to speed up the delivery of U.S.-made Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs) to Japan. However, Koizumi did not offer specifics on the delivery timeline or quantities.
Breaking from Pacifism
Japan’s evolving defense strategy marks a clear departure from the pacifist policies enshrined in its post-World War II Constitution. While its Self-Defense Forces have long operated within strict limits, recent reforms have sought to expand their operational scope.
The 2022 security update introduced more offensive roles for Japanese forces and eased restrictions on arms exports. The current government under Prime Minister Takaichi aims to go even further by loosening regulations on weapons transfers and pursuing a more autonomous defense policy.
These measures reflect both domestic political shifts and broader concerns about the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific region. With China asserting military control over contested waters and North Korea continuing missile tests, Japan is moving decisively to strengthen its defense infrastructure.
A Strengthened Alliance
For the United States, Japan’s accelerated military buildup offers a crucial opportunity to deepen bilateral security cooperation in the face of shared threats.
“We’re going to invest now and invest quickly while we still have time,” Hegseth stated, underscoring the urgency of bolstering deterrence capabilities across the Pacific.
The remarks signal growing alignment between Tokyo and Washington on regional defense strategy. As both nations face increasingly complex security challenges, their cooperation — particularly in areas such as missile defense, logistics, and intelligence sharing — is expected to expand.
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