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US approves $3.6 billion sale of missiles to Japan

Saturday, 04 January 2025 7:53 AM [ Last Update: Saturday, 04 January 2025 7:53 AM ]

An AIM-120 D-3 sits at Raytheon’s Tucson, Arizona plant. (Photo by Raytheon Technologies)

The US says it has approved a $3.6 billion sale of up to 1,200 advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to Japan as Washington continues to build up alliances in Asia against China.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said the weaponry will help defend Washington’s regional ally against what it described as “threats” posed by China and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

For decades, the US has ramped up its military engagement in the region, which has more overseas active-duty American troops than anywhere else in the world.

Tens of thousands of soldiers are stationed on sprawling bases in treaty allies South Korea and Japan, which the US is making new forays into the Philippines and Australia.

Outgoing President Joe Biden bolstered the Quad (India, Japan, Australia and the US) military group and founded the AUKUS (Australia, United Kingdom and the US) partnership that aims to equip Canberra with nuclear-powered submarines.

Japan is planning to increase its total military spending to 43 trillion yen ($273 billion) by 2027.

Tokyo has veered away from the pacifist constitution imposed by the US in the aftermath of World War II, in 2022 moving to boost military spending to about 2% of its GDP by 2027 and buy up American cruise missiles.

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China, for its part, has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the militarization of the Indo-Pacific region. Beijing says the US poses a threat to peace and security in the region.

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