U.S. military to strengthen functions of Japan command headquarters

    WASHINGTON, March 24 Kyodo - The U.S. military plans to strengthen the functions of its command headquarters in Japan, as it aims for smoother cooperation with the country's Self-Defense Forces, diplomatic sources said Sunday.

  Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to agree on the review of the command and control operations between the two countries when they meet in Washington on April 10, the sources added, adding it would be included in a joint statement.

   The move comes as Japan and the United States have bolstered their defense ties with the security environment in Asia becoming unstable amid China's assertiveness toward Taiwan and North Korea's continuous missile and nuclear weapons development.

  Japan and the United States will also work on further steps to enhance their response capabilities. Tokyo decided in 2022 to acquire the capability to strike enemy bases even under Japan's war-renouncing Constitution.

   Tokyo and Washington are likely to discuss the details of such issues ahead of two-plus-two talks involving their defense and foreign ministers, which will held by the end of this year, the sources said.

   Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to meet with U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington on Aug. 10, the sources added.

==Kyodo