The sense of menace is growing. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has warned that the security situation around Japan is rapidly changing and that “the reality is it's the most severe it has ever been."
The very first sentence of the Defense of Japan 2021 white paper notes that “security challenges and destabilizing factors became more tangible and acute,” a view echoed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2021 diplomatic blue book, which begins by noting “a broadening and diversifying array of security challenges” and warns that “Today, no single country can protect its peace and security on its own.”
Fortunately, Japan does not have to. Our alliance with the United States continues to be strong, a source of reassurance to the people of Japan and a formidable deterrent to our adversaries. That relationship is the product of a commitment by both governments to their partnership, the shared values that we believe in and defend and the hard work that has been done and will continue to be demanded in the years ahead.