Pentagon Press Secretary Peter Cook provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter held an extensive bilateral meeting today with Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Defense Ministers’ Meeting – Plus (ADMM-Plus) was held.
Secretary Carter welcomed the enactment of the Peace and Security Legislation in Japan. Both ministers expressed support for the establishment of the new Alliance Coordination Mechanism (ACM) and the Bilateral Planning Mechanism (BPM), a key implementation effort for the new bilateral defense guidelines, which were released in April this year.
Secretary Carter and Minister Nakatani also discussed U.S. force realignment; both expressed strong commitment to the Futenma Replacement Facility.
They also exchanged views on the ongoing host nation support negotiations, trilateral cooperation with Southeast Asian partner countries, and defense equipment and technology cooperation. Secretary Carter particularly praised Minister Nakatani’s recent meeting with ROK Defense Minister Han Min-koo, highlighting the importance of trilateral cooperation between Japan, the ROK, and the United States for regional stability.
The two leaders also discussed the rapidly evolving security environment in the Asia-Pacific region, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea. They affirmed both governments’ determination to conduct maritime operations in accordance with international law.