Photo/Illutration U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani before their meeting in Tokyo on March 30 (Kiyoshi Ota/Pool via REUTERS)

Japan proposed a security strategy concept to the United States that could substantially expand the geographical area where the Self-Defense Forces may be deployed to counter potential threats from China.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani delineated a “one-theater” approach to U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth when they met in Tokyo on March 30, government sources said April 14.

The new concept would consider the East China Sea, the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula and surrounding areas as a single “theater,” a military term for an area where an operation is conducted in wartime.

Japan, the United States and like-minded countries would be called on to strengthen defense cooperation to prepare for emergencies in this theater.

“Japan plans to deepen partnerships by viewing Japan, the United States, Australia, the Philippines, South Korea and others as a single theater,” Nakatani was quoted as telling his U.S. counterpart during the meeting.

Hegseth welcomed Nakatani’s proposal, the sources said.

During a meeting with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba later that day, Hegseth emphasized the importance of cooperation among Japan, the United States, South Korea and the Philippines, referring to the one-theater concept, sources said.

Senior SDF and Defense Ministry officials developed the one-theater idea, sources said.

It would combine the East China Sea theater and the South China Sea theater, which have been traditionally considered separate.

Nakatani believes that Japan must play a more active role in the Indo-Pacific region in countering China during the U.S. presidency of Donald Trump, a senior Defense Ministry official said.

However, the geographical coverage of the proposed theater has not been defined, leaving the areas where the SDF would participate in activities unclear.

Critics said the risk of the SDF becoming embroiled in military emergencies in other countries and regions would increase.

“We must refrain from using the strong word of theater (in meetings with other countries) when details have yet to be worked out,” a senior Defense Ministry official said.

A senior SDF official also said, “Ministry officials must have a consensus when using a new term, but the word is not still defined.”

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