Japan and US Agree to Build Joint Missile Assembly Plant

The United States and Japan will build a new factory in Japan to assemble advanced air-to-air missiles. This move aims to increase the speed and volume of weapons production for the F-35 fighter jets used by both nations.

Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi made the announcement on Wednesday night in Cebu, Philippines. He spoke at a news conference after meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The two were attending an annual meeting of Southeast Asian defense chiefs.

The joint effort is part of a project called Operation Supercharge. Koizumi stated that the facility will be a final assembly and inspection plant for the Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile, or AMRAAM. These missiles are essential components for the F-35 aircraft, which is one of the most advanced planes in the world and is operated by the Japanese military.

Koizumi said he and Hegseth shared a sense of crisis regarding the regional security situation. "We agreed to strengthen the deterrence and response capabilities of the Japan-U.S. alliance with greater speed and intensity than ever before," Koizumi said. He noted that the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to a free and open international order based on the rule of law.

The announcement comes as Japan monitors Chinese naval activity. Koizumi reported on Thursday that three Chinese destroyers and a coast guard ship crossed the Osumi Strait south of Kyushu this week. The fleet headed east toward the Pacific Ocean. Koizumi said this was the first time his ministry had spotted such a fleet configuration in that area.

He described the incident as an example of the challenging security environment in the region. Japan has been accelerating its military buildup in southwestern Japan to deter potential threats. His ministry will continue to watch Chinese activity with a high level of interest.

Hegseth also addressed a group of ASEAN defense ministers on Wednesday. He did not mention China by name but described the U.S. approach as strong, quiet, and clear. "Strong enough to deter coercion and aggression, quiet enough to avoid needless escalation or public theatrics to let our actions speak for themselves," Hegseth said. He added that the message is clear so that friends, partners, and adversaries understand where the United States stands.

The U.S. has assured the Philippines, its oldest treaty ally in Asia, that it will build a robust deterrence against aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea. Washington has stated it is obligated to defend the Philippines if its forces come under armed attack in that area.

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles also spoke in Cebu. He said Australian forces will continue to defend the rule of law despite increasing assertiveness by China. Last year, Australia protested after a Chinese J-16 fighter passed within 30 meters of an Australian P-8 Poseidon surveillance jet over the disputed waters.

The annual meetings in the Philippines aim to avert major regional conflicts and strengthen defense cooperation. On the sidelines, the United States, China, and their allies have traded criticisms. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Brunei, along with Taiwan, have overlapping claims in the South China Sea. Confrontations have escalated between Chinese and Philippine vessels in disputed shoals and waters.