Japan to build shared missile plant

The United States and Japan agreed Wednesday to build a facility in Japan for the joint production of advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles. Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the plan during a news conference in Cebu, Philippines, where he met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The two nations will construct a final assembly and inspection plant for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, known as AMRAAM. Koizumi stated that the project, dubbed Operation Supercharge, is essential for supporting F-35 fighter jets. The U.S. and Japanese militaries both operate the F-35, one of the world's most advanced aircraft. The move follows repeated expressions of alarm from both allies regarding China's growing assertiveness in Asia.

Koizumi raised specific concerns about Chinese naval activity in southwestern Japan during a session 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 this week. His ministry had not previously spotted such a fleet configuration. Koizumi described the incident as an example illustrating the challenging security environment in the region. He added that his ministry will continue to monitor Chinese activity with a high level of interest.

Japan has been accelerating its military buildup in the southwest to deter China. The annual meetings in the Philippines aim to avert major regional conflict and strengthen defense cooperation. However, the U.S., China, and their allies have often traded criticisms on the sidelines. Hegseth met with ASEAN defense ministers on Wednesday, a group led by host Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. Hegseth did not mention China by name but outlined the administration's approach to regional security.

Hegseth described the U.S. strategy as strong, quiet, and clear. He said the approach is strong enough to deter coercion and aggression, yet quiet enough to avoid needless escalation or public theatrics. He told the defense chiefs that the message is clear enough for friends, partners, and potential adversaries to understand where the United States stands. He affirmed that the U.S. will defend its interests and those of its allies.

The Trump administration has assured the Philippines, Washington's oldest treaty ally in Asia, that it will build robust deterrence against China's actions in the South China Sea. Beijing claims virtually the entire busy waterway, a key global trade route. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also have overlapping claims in the area. Confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have escalated in recent years.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country will continue to defend the rule of law in the Pacific despite China's assertiveness. He referenced an incident last year where a Chinese J-16 fighter released flares and passed within 30 meters of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet. Marles told The Associated Press that freedom of navigation on the high seas is profoundly important for Australia. Washington has warned it is obligated to defend the Philippines if Filipino forces come under armed attack.

Beijing and Tokyo also have a separate dispute over Japanese-controlled islands in the East China Sea. Both sides frequently accuse each other of infringing on maritime territory. The joint missile production agreement adds a new layer to the defense partnership as both nations seek to strengthen deterrence capabilities with greater speed.