Japanese and US defence chiefs and top diplomats met in Tokyo on Sunday for talks aimed at further bolstering their military cooperation, including by upgrading the command and control of US forces and strengthening American-licensed missile production in Japan, amid a rising threat from China. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin were joined by their Japanese counterparts, Yoko Kamikawa and Minoru Kihara, at the Japan-US Security Consultative Committee, known as “2+2” security talks, to reaffirm their alliance following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the November presidential race.