Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III is honored in a welcome ceremony hosted by South Korean Minister of National Defense Suh Wook, Seoul, South Korea, March 17, 2021. (DoD photo by Lisa Ferdinando)

By  Gary  Raynaldo    DIPLOMATIC  TIMES

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin told  Defense Minister Suh Wook of the Republic of Korea in Seoul, Korea that bilateral cooperation between both countries is essential to push  back the  increased “aggression” from Beijing and North Korea.    Defense Secretary  Austin reassured his counterpart of  America’s “ironclad commitment” to the defense of the Republic of Korea in his first face-to-face meeting with the South Korean Minister of National Defense Wednesday in Seoul.  

“Given the unprecedented challenges posed by both the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and China, the U.S.-ROK alliance has never been more important. I am here today to reaffirm to the United States’ commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea.  You and I can both agree that military readiness is a top priority, and our combined readiness must ensure that we are ready to fight tonight, if needed.  

-U.S. Defense Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin

“For the ROK – U.S. alliance, born in the fire of the Korean War seven decades ago, forged in the blood shed together by our forefathers, both Korean and American.   …paramount in the process of our alliance’s development is the maintenance of combined defense posture, formidable deterrence against North Korea. “

-Defense Minister Suh Wook of the Republic of Korea

 U,S and JAPAN Pledge Collaboration To Deter CHINA Aggression

Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense  Austin  traveled to Tokyo Tuesday as the first trip outside the United States by Biden administration officials.  Blinken and Austin met with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi and Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi in the so-called “two-plus-two” meetings hosted by Motegi. They later met with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.

“We agreed on the recognition that China’s behavior, where inconsistent with the existing international order, presents various challenges to the alliance and the international community.  We remain opposed to any unilateral action that seeks to change the status quo, including in the East and South China Seas.  We share serious concerns over the China coast guard law.”

-Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi via interpreter at press conference