The U.S. and Japan are in talks to share each other’s military facilities across Japan. That’s according to a report by Nikkei Asia, which said the talks are centered on storing munitions at each other’s bases. If the plan is realized, the U.S. would get access to bases near Taiwan, allowing it to quickly deploy weapons in the event of a conflict.

The headline of the Nikkei Asia report reads: “U.S. and Japan to jointly stockpile munitions, including near Taiwan.” According to the report, the two sides are discussing the shared use of each other’s military facilities to prepare for contingencies in the Taiwan Strait.

Antony Blinken (Jan. 7)
US secretary of state
We’ll sign a new five-year Host Nation Support framework that will invest greater resources to deepen our military readiness and interoperability.

At the U.S.-Japan “two-plus-two” talks last week, the two sides’ foreign and defense chiefs had discussed the joint usage of facilities. After the meeting, both sides expressed their commitment to joint usage, which would let the U.S. quickly deploy munitions in Taiwan’s proximity.

Su Tzu-yun
Institute for National Defense and Security Research
There are agreements on sharing military bases between the U.S. and Japan, or even Japan and the U.K. – or even Japan and Australia or France. The second matter pertains to the sharing of munitions, notably the AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile, which can be carried on B-1 and B-52 strike bombers. This missile is critically important when trying to block the PLA’s naval forces or its amphibious landing units.

To further deepen U.S.-Japan ties, the White House announced U.S. President Joe Biden will meet virtually with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on Friday. The two leaders will discuss trade, security and climate change among other issues, according to a statement. The White House said the meeting will “highlight the strength of the U.S.-Japan alliance, which is the cornerstone of peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.”

As for Taiwan and Japan, the two sides will hold their first virtual parliamentary security partnership forum on Tuesday. Taiwan will be represented by lawmakers Wang Ting-yu, Chao Tien-lin and Lin Ching-yi, while Japan will be represented by former Senior Vice Minister of Defense Nakayama Yasuhide and State Minister for Internal Affairs and Communications Tabata Hiroaki. Participants will discuss issues such as security concerns shared by Taiwan and Japan.

Chao Tien-lin
DPP lawmaker
They are all figures who have long been representative of Japan’s pro-Taiwan faction, and who have considerable insights into the Indo-Pacific Strategy. Amid China’s threats, our response is to further discuss Taiwan’s CPTPP bid. I think that this will be a lively meeting.

Taiwan and Japan are set to discuss governance, trade and diplomatic cooperation, to create a win-win situation for both sides.