US Defense Secretary, Japan PM Discuss Pandemic Crisis Response - Pentagon

US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe have discussed opportunities to cooperate on security issues like pandemic crisis response and humanitarian aid during a meeting in Tokyo, according to a US Department of Defense press release.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The two leaders reaffirmed the strength of the US-Japan Alliance, according to the release, and the importance of the US military’s strategy to redeploy more resources to the Asia-Pacific.

“The revision of the Guidelines for US-Japan Defense Cooperation is a historic moment… for security and defense cooperation, including on issues like responding to pandemic health crises and providing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,” the release, issued on Wednesday, said.

Carter also met with Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga to discuss the regional security situation.

The Defense Secretary’s visit to Tokyo comes in advance of Abe’s visit to Washington later in April 2015.

On Monday, DOD announced that it would locate 60 percent of its military fleet in the Pacific-Indian Ocean area, with the newest and most capable weapons systems first going to the Asia-Pacific region.