Tokyo Snobs Washington: Japan draws plugs with us on 2+2 security talks; Defense budget demand sparks line

Japan has canceled a high-level meeting with its nearest partner the United States, when the Trump administration suddenly demanded more spending on Tokyo’s defense, the Financial Times reported on Friday.US State Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary PT Hegseth were expected to meet their Japanese counterparts in Washington on 1 July, Defense Minister General Nakatani and External Affairs Minister Takeshi Ivea, which was for the annual 2+2 security talks.However, Tokyo discontinued the meeting, when the US asked Japan to increase its defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP, from the first request of 3 percent, according to three sources, familiar with the discussions, including two officers located in Tokyo, quoted by the newspaper. A senior Japanese official said that the decision to cancel the July 1 meeting was also influenced by the upcoming Upper House elections on July 20, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party seats are expected to be lost.Reuters confirmed an US government official, Japan “postponed” the meeting and the decision was made week ago, although no reason was provided. Meanwhile, a non-government source familiar with the case confirmed to hear about Japan’s return from talks, but was also unaware of the motive behind the move.The new, increased demand came in Pentagon in the recent weeks by the third most senior officer Albridge Kolby, who recently resolved tension with another major American collaborate in Indo-Pacific by launching a review of the nuclear-operated submarine deal with Australia, “said the new, increased demand.There has been a tension of security as Japan and other American colleagues, with the United States engaged in a tough trade talks on US President Donald Trump’s worldwide tariff attack.Speaking at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue Defense Forum in Singapore last month, Hegseth urged the Asia-Pacific colleagues to follow the “Newfound Example” in promoting defense spending by Europeans, indicating regional threats from China and North Korea.“America is now playing hardball with colleagues in the Asia-Pacific,” a defense officer was quoted.In March, Albridge Kolby’s hearing of his Senate for the Defense Secretary for a policy to promote his defense spending to Japan, inspired a sharp response from Japanese Prime Minister Shigru Ishiba, who said that Japan’s defense budget would be set by Tokyo alone, not external pressure.