US defence secretary praises ‘indispensable partner’ Japan

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth waits for officials during his visit to Tokyo (Stanislav Kogiku/Pool Photo via AP/PA)

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has called Japan an “indispensable partner” in deterring growing Chinese assertiveness in the region.

Mr Hegseth announced upgrading the US military command in Japan to a new “war-fighting headquarters”.