U.S. and Japan to build missile plant in Japan

Three Chinese destroyers and one coast guard vessel crossed the Osumi Strait this week, a fleet configuration Japanese officials say they have never spotted before. That naval movement prompted a new agreement between Washington and Tokyo to build a missile factory on Japanese soil.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi announced the deal on Wednesday night in Cebu, Philippines. He met with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of an annual conference for Southeast Asian defense leaders. The two countries will construct a final assembly and inspection plant for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM. The joint production effort is called Operation Supercharge. Koizumi said the missiles are essential for the F-35 fighter jets, which are among the world's most advanced aircraft and are used by the Japanese military.

Koizumi cited the recent Chinese naval activity as a reason for the move. He stated that the ministry will monitor the situation with a high level of interest. Japan is accelerating its military buildup in the southwest region to deter further action from Beijing. The Defense Minister described the security environment as challenging.

During their meeting, Koizumi and Hegseth focused on strengthening the alliance's deterrence capabilities. Koizumi said he shared a sense of crisis with Hegseth regarding the regional situation. He noted that both leaders agreed to strengthen their response capabilities with greater speed and intensity. The ministers also reaffirmed their support for a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

Hegseth addressed ASEAN defense ministers separately on Wednesday. He described the U.S. approach as strong, quiet, and clear. The strategy aims to deter coercion without causing needless escalation. Hegseth emphasized that the United States will defend its interests and those of its allies. Philippine Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. hosted the meeting.

Other nations at the conference expressed similar concerns. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said his country will continue to defend the rule of law in the Pacific. He referenced a recent incident where a Chinese fighter aircraft flew within 30 meters of an Australian surveillance jet. The United States has warned it will defend the Philippines if its forces face an armed attack in the disputed South China Sea. Beijing and Tokyo also have a separate dispute over islands in the East China Sea.