Person

Shinjiro Koizumi

1. Japan's Koizumi and US Defense Secretary Hegseth agree in Cebu on munitions co-production; Koizumi also meets South Korean counterpart

   Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi met US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, Oct 28, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus in Cebu, the Philippines, their sixth face-to-face meeting. The US side said they confirmed close cooperation on munitions co-production and discussed a strategy of 'deterrence by denial'. With Japan revising its three security documents this year, Koizumi reportedly briefed the US on steps to strengthen defence including higher spending, and asked for measures to prevent a recurrence after a US Marine at Futenma base in Okinawa was arrested over a robbery-murder. In the afternoon Koizumi also met South Korea's defence minister, the first face-to-face meeting between the two since Koizumi visited Yasukuni Shrine on Aug 15.

   Oct 28, 2026 Afternoon