Washington, April 23 -- Strengthening the United States military presence and strategic positioning in Japan is a "top priority" for the US Department of Defence, as the US moves to reinforce deterrence in the Indo-Pacific in response to China's growing influence, reported Kyodo News.

John Noh, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs, told a House Armed Services Committee hearing that while the US is committed to the region, it cannot act in isolation. Noh emphasised that "the U.S. military cannot and should not alone sustain a favourable balance of power, which is fundamentally in our regional allies and partners' interests."

The Pentagon official noted that Washington is increasingly looking towards its re...