U.S. and Japan defense chiefs vow cooperation in ‘any situation’ amid Taiwan concerns

The Japanese and U.S. defense chiefs held their first talks Tuesday, pledging to cooperate in responding to “any situation in the region” after China’s launch of ballistic missiles into waters near Japan’s far-flung southwestern islands earlier this month.

New Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin “strongly condemned” Beijing’s decision to lob five ballistic missiles into Japan’s claimed exclusive economic zone, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry, with the pair vowing “seamless” cooperation, including at the ministerial level, in responding to challenges.