James L. Schoff, Douglas E. Rake, Joshua Levy
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The Critical 6 Months for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation We Never Saw Coming
The remainder of 2020 is shaping up to be an unexpectedly consequential year for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation, and it comes at a time of political uncertainty in both capitals.
Source: Diplomat
Policymakers in Washington, D.C. were surprised to hear Japanese Defense Minister Taro Kono announce on June 15 that he was halting deployment of the $4 billion Aegis Ashore missile defense system Japan is buying from the United States. This soon became a decision to cancel the use of planned Aegis Ashore sites in Yamaguchi and Akita prefectures, and prompted a broader reconsideration of Japan’s missile defense approach and other aspects of its national security strategy. The remainder of 2020 is shaping up to be an unexpectedly consequential year for U.S.-Japan defense cooperation, and it comes at a time of political uncertainty in both capitals. This calls for focused high-level alliance attention now on Japan’s defense options to prevent strategy gaps from emerging.
About the Author
Former Senior Fellow, Asia Program
James L. Schoff was a senior fellow in the Carnegie Asia Program. His research focuses on U.S.-Japan relations and regional engagement, Japanese technology innovation, and regional trade and security dynamics.
- A High-Tech Alliance: Challenges and Opportunities for U.S.-Japan Science and Technology CollaborationPaper
- What’s the U.S. Take on Russia-Japan Relations?Commentary
James L. Schoff
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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