Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs and top diplomats agreed to further bolster their military cooperation by upgrading the command and control of U.S. forces in the East Asian country and strengthening American-licensed missile production there, describing the rising threat from China as “the greatest strategic challenge”. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin joined their Japanese counterparts at the “2+2” security talks Sunday in Tokyo, to reaffirm their alliance following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the November presidential race. They held their first talks to ensure the U.S. commitment to “extended deterrence,” which includes nuclear weapons.
