[By Guancha Net Qi Qian]

According to a June 20 report by the Financial Times, following the Trump administration's request for Japan to increase its defense spending, Japan canceled its regular "2+2" high-level talks with its main ally, the United States. An American analyst pointed out that if this is true, Japan's move would be "unusual".

The report stated that US Secretary of State Rubio and Defense Secretary Hekseth had originally planned to hold talks with Japanese Foreign Minister and Defense Minister in Washington on July 1. However, two Japanese officials familiar with the matter revealed that after the US side requested Japan to raise its defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, the Japanese government canceled the meeting. Previously, the US side had requested a ratio of 3%.

Kyodo News of Japan subsequently forwarded this report, also mentioning that the Japanese government has set a goal to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP by the fiscal year 2027. If the US insists on demanding 3.5%, it may become a new source of friction in the US-Japan relationship.

A US official who wished to remain anonymous confirmed that Japan has "delayed" the talks, but said the decision was made several weeks ago. The message did not specify the reason. Another non-governmental source familiar with the matter said he also heard that Japan had withdrawn from the talks, without specifying the reason.

According to Reuters, US Department of State spokesperson Tammy Bruess was asked about this matter during a routine briefing and declined to comment on related reports. The Pentagon did not immediately comment. The Japanese Embassy in the United States did not respond to requests for comment.

It is worth noting that the meeting is scheduled before the upcoming NATO summit in Europe led by the US next week, where Trump is expected to demand that European allies raise their defense spending to 5% of GDP.

Elbridge Corley, US media

The Financial Times reported that in recent weeks, Elbridge Corley, the third highest-ranking official at the Pentagon and Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, proposed higher spending requirements to the Japanese side. Corley has also recently reviewed the project to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, which angered another key US ally in the "Indo-Pacific" region.

In March this year, Japanese Prime Minister Ishiba stated that no other country has the right to decide Japan's defense budget. Previously, Corley, in his nomination hearing, requested Japan to increase spending to counter China.

A senior Japanese official told the Financial Times that the decision to cancel the talks was also related to the upcoming Senate election in Japan on July 20, where the ruling Liberal Democratic Party is expected to lose seats.

As the US requested Japan to increase defense spending, Japan and other US allies have been engaged in difficult trade negotiations with the US.

A US defense official said: "The US is now taking a tough stance towards its allies in the Asia-Pacific region." Zack Cooper, an Asian security expert at the American Enterprise Institute, bluntly stated: "The expectations of the Trump administration regarding the level of defense spending by Asian allies are inconsistent and unrealistic, which may backfire and harm the interests of those foreign officials and experts who support the US most."

Christopher Johns, a former senior US-Japan affairs expert in the US government, said that Japan has always considered the "2+2" talks as a "top priority", believing that the mechanism provides a valuable political opportunity to showcase the strength of the US-Japan alliance. However, he pointed out that Japan's postponement of the talks indicates that "Tokyo is extremely uneasy about the current state and prospects of the US-Japan bilateral relationship."

John Stone, a partner at the US consulting firm Asia Group, said: "Tokyo seems to have concluded that the political risks of holding the meeting before the election outweigh the potential benefits. If this is true, this is quite an unusual assessment."

This article is an exclusive piece by Guancha Net and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7518273539410018853/

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