Japan Defense Focus No.140

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20BS/NOn July 30, Defense Minister Kishi held a telephone confer-ence with U.S. Defense Secretary Austin after his visit to Southeast Asia.　The two ministers confirmed that they will further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance capabilities to deter and respond in order to address the increasingly challenging From August 8-12, State Minister of Defense Nakayama visited the U.S. and made a first visit to U.S. Cyber Com-mand as a Political-level Appointee of the JMOD. He met with GEN Paul M. Nakasone, Commander, U.S. Cyber Command and Dr. Colin H. Kahl, Under Secretary of De-fense for Policy. In the meeting with GEN Nakasone on August 9, both sides reaffirmed the importance of bilateral partnership, discussed the strategic direction for strengthening defense cooperation in cyberspace, and exchanged threat percep-tion in face of growing security challenges in cyberspace. In the meeting with Dr. Kahl at the Pentagon on August 10, given the increasingly severe regional security environment, both sides shared the recognition on the im-portance of close cooperation between Japan and the U.S. at all levels. In addition, they confirmed that they would further strengthen the Japan-U.S. Alliance capabilities to deter and respond, including cooperation in cyberspace.security environment under the close cooperation of the two countries. The two ministers also agreed to strengthen cooperation with various partners in the region and beyond in order to maintain and strengthen the "Free and Open Indo-Pacific."+%'State Minister of Defense Nakayama's Visit to the U.S.Japan-U.S. Defense Ministerial Telephone Conference