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OPINION:
When the U.S. dispatched two nuclear-capable B-52 strategic bombers to accompany six Japanese fighter jets earlier this month, it was the Trump administration’s clearest statement to date that America’s commitment to Japan remains unwavering.
The joint flight over the Sea of Japan was launched in the wake of significant escalations in the Indo-Pacific, when Chinese aircraft locked radars on Japanese jets and later accompanied Russian strategic bombers in a joint patrol that encroached on Japan.
A phone call between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi has reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Japan alliance in deterring an increasingly assertive China, whose expanding military activity jeopardizes the shared strategic interest in defending a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP).
It follows President Trump’s October visit to Tokyo, where he signaled renewed U.S. engagement in the region alongside Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The stakes couldn’t be higher for either nation. The Indo-Pacific’s stability depends on its ability to deter coercion and uphold the principles of openness and free navigation. The United States has no greater ally in the region than Japan.
As Beijing presses its territorial claims, the urgency for Tokyo and Washington to build on their historic partnership has never been greater.
The Japan-U.S. alliance has long been the cornerstone of regional peace and stability. American technology and intelligence have been complemented by Japan’s strategic geography and steadfast commitment to ensuring the Pacific remains free and open.
In 2021, the Japanese Ministry of Defense said capacity-building initiatives and deepening military cooperation with the United States are “central” to maintaining and strengthening the vision of FOIP.
The Trump administration is also demonstrating an increasing interest in Indo-Pacific security and the growing risks to international security and prosperity posed by “destabilizing” actors, such as China.
At the 2025 Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Mr. Hegseth reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to improving its “forward force posture” across the region, including planned upgrades to U.S. Forces Japan headquarters. He reiterated in discussions with Mr. Koizumi that the U.S.-Japan alliance must grow stronger, including through greater bilateral training exercises and increased defense production.
The challenges confronting the alliance are significant. China has increased its defense budget by 7.2% compared with 2024 and continues to accelerate the development of its short-, medium- and long-range strike capabilities.
It has intensified incursions into Japanese waters and expanded its “gray zone” tactics in the South China Sea, including the aggressive use of its Coast Guard against the Philippines.
Earlier this year, the Japanese Ministry of Defense was forced to scramble Air Self-Defense Force jets after the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning conducted fighter jet launch drills less than 125 miles from the Japanese-administered Senkaku Islands. It was one of Beijing’s most provocative military demonstrations in months.
China has continued to step up its military and political pressure on Taiwan and has not ruled out the use of force to secure its claim to the island. Beijing’s escalatory muscle flexing shows no signs of relenting and underscores the necessity of strong bilateral cooperation between Tokyo and Washington.
Japan’s commitment to deepening its alliance with the U.S. is clear, with Tokyo already making decisive shifts. Ms. Takaichi has pledged to continue advancing the vision of a FOIP.
The FOIP sits at the center of Japan’s foreign and security policy, a priority Ms. Takaichi confirmed in her first call with Mr. Trump. Tokyo has also pledged to accelerate its defense spending target by two years, bringing expenditure to 2% of gross domestic product in the current fiscal year, ahead of its original 2027 goal.
The move reflects a growing consensus within Japan’s new government that deterrence, not dependence, is the key to maintaining regional stability.
This is not a policy of total decoupling from China, which remains a crucial trading partner for Japan and other American allies in the region. Rather, it is a reassertion of the primacy of international law and a recognition that balance, not confrontation, is the surest route to prosperity.
The reality remains that without sustained support from Washington, Japan cannot deter an increasingly assertive China on its own.
Yet with governments committed to realizing a lasting and tangible security partnership, Tokyo and Washington have a historic opportunity to reinforce their alliance and secure a stable Indo-Pacific for another generation.
• Bates Gill is a senior fellow for Asian security at The National Bureau of Asian Research.
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