Pacific Perspective:White House Document Outlines Deepening US/Japan Strategic Alliance Part 2

As our countries strengthen their bilateral ties,we will continue to build our relationship with like-minded partners in the region.Today,we announce our decision to cooperate on a networked air defence architecture among the United States,Japan,and Australia to counter growing air and missile threats.Recognising Japan's strengths and close bilateral defence partnerships with the AUKUS countries,AUKUS partners-Australia,the United Kingdom and the United States-are considering cooperation with Japan on AUKUS Pillar II advanced capability projects.Continuing the momentum from the Camp David Summit,we welcome progress on establishing an annual multi-domain exercise between the United States,Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).Recognising the commitments made in the Atlantic Declaration and the Hiroshima Accords,and as the Indo-Pacific and Euro-Atlantic regions become ever more interlinked,we wlcome the announcement of regular U.S.-Japan-UK trilateral exercises,begining in 2025,as we enhance our shared enduring security.Building on the announcement at the Australian Official Vist in October to pursue trilateral cooperation with Japan on unmanned aerial systems,we are exploring cooperative opportunities in the rapidly emerging field of collaborative combat aircraft and autonomy...We reaffirm the critical importance to enhance U.S. extended deterrence,bolstered by Japan's defence capabilities,and will further strengthen bilateral cooperation.In this regard,we call on our respective foreign and defence mimisters to hold in-depth discussions on extended deterrence on the occasion of the next 2+2 meeting.(Note:extended deterrence is a commitment to deter,and,if necessary,to respond across the spectrum of potential nuclear and non-nuclear scenarios in defence of Allies and Partners).*We continue to deepen our cooperation on information and cyber security to ensure our Alliance stays ahead of growing cyber threats and builds resilience in the information and communication technology domain.We also plan on enhancing our cooperation on the protetction of critical infrastructure...Reaching New Frontiers in Space:Our global partnership extends to space,where the United States and Japan are leading the way to explore the solar system and return to the Moon.Today,we welcome the signing of a Lunar Surface Exploration Implementing Arrangement,in which Japan plans to provide and sustain operation of a pressurised lunar rover which the United States plans to allocate two flight opportunities to the lunar surface for Japan on future Artemis missions.The leaders announced a shared goal for a Japanese national to be the first non-American astronaut to land on the Moon on a future Artemis mission,assuming independent benchmarks are achieved...We also announce bilateral cooperation on a Low Earth Orbit detection and tracking constellation for missiles such as hypersonic glide vehicles,including potential cooperation with U.S. industry.*We reaffirm our steadfast commitment to the Quad (US-Australia-Japan-India) and its shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is stable,prosperous and inclusive which continues to deliver results for the region.We reiterate the Quad's unwavering support and respect for regional institutions,including ASEAN,the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) and the Indian Ocean Rim Association.We also reaffirm our support for ASEAN centrality and unity as well as the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Southeast Asian (countries that) are critical partners in the Indo-Pacific,and the U.S.-Japan-Philippines trilateral aims to enhance trilateral defence and security cooperation while promising economic security and resilience.