TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — The US and Japan agreed to build up deterrence against regional Chinese aggression following US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s meeting with Japan Defense Minister Nakatani Gen on Sunday.

America is committed to sustaining a credible deterrence throughout the US Indo-Pacific Command area of operations, including in the Taiwan Strait, Hegseth said. The US seeks to build a robust alliance “so that the Communist Chinese don't take the aggressive action that some have contemplated they will," he said.

The US “must be prepared, [and] we look forward to working closely together [with Japan] as we improve our warfighting capabilities, our lethality and our readiness," the secretary of defense added.

The two sides opposed unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force or coercion, including in the East and South China Seas, and stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, according to a meeting summary. Both sides pledged to mutually strengthen deterrence capabilities to realize a “free and open Indo-Pacific.”

Hegseth and Nakatani also discussed co-producing missiles, such as AMRAAMs, and maintenance cooperation of US military vessels and aircraft “to mutually complement and strengthen the defense industrial base of Japan and the US.”

Taiwan welcomed the bilateral meeting and pledged to work with like-minded countries to defend democratic institutions and universal values.

Hegseth announced on Sunday the beginning of phase one of upgrading US Forces Japan to a joint force headquarters, which gives it more combat and operational responsibilities. Japan established the JSDF Joint Operations Command last week to oversee its three military branches and ensure readiness and enhanced operational coordination with the US during a potential regional contingency.