Japan has scrapped the planned July 1 meeting in Washington of foreign and defense ministers ("2+2") with the U.S., media reported June 22, citing an unofficial overture from Washington requesting Tokyo to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP. According to the Financial Times, the demand sparked anger in Tokyo.
Asahi Shimbun disclosed early on June 22 that the U.S. government has unofficially approached Japan with a specific request to increase its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, according to sources familiar with the matter. The new, higher demand was made in recent weeks by Elbridge Colby, the third-most senior official at the Pentagon, FT reported.
The report noted Japan’s Defense Ministry did not comment on whether the talks had been canceled, and said no decision had been made on the timing of the next meeting. The U.S. state department and the Pentagon did not comment.
Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times yesterday. The U.S. demand that Japan increase defense expenditures constitutes an aggressive intervention into Japan’s defense and domestic affairs, which Tokyo finds unacceptable, Li said. “While Japan requires American protection to some degree, it equally insists on safeguarding its dignity, interests and sovereign autonomy. Washington’s blatant coercion under the guise of ‘protection’ has seemingly provoked visible dissatisfaction from Tokyo, which marks a new evolution in alliance dynamics,” Li said.
There is additional sensitivity to U.S. bullying, because on July 20 Japan will hold elections for the Upper House, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to lose seats.
Christopher Johnstone, a former senior U.S. government Japan expert was quoted by FT as saying, “Tokyo appears to have concluded that the political risk of a meeting before the election was higher than the potential gain—a pretty extraordinary assessment, if true.”
The tension over security issues also comes as the allies are holding tough trade talks after the U.S. imposed “reciprocal” tariffs on Japan in April, reported FT.
In his U.S. Senate confirmation hearing in March, Colby’s called for Tokyo to increase defense spending, which drew a rebuke from Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who said Tokyo would decide its own budget, FT wrote.
