TOKYO, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump's defense secretary Jim Mattis reiterated his country's mutual defense commitment to Japan in a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Tokyo on Friday.
Remarks made recently by U.S. President Donald Trump had some Japanese officials on edge regarding the future of the special security alliance and the costs shouldered by Japan.
Mattis stressed that his country's resolve to adhere to its security obligations remained unwavering.
"I want there to be no misunderstanding during the transition in Washington that we stand firmly, one-hundred percent, shoulder-to-shoulder with you and the Japanese people," Mattis said at the beginning of his meeting with the Japanese leader.
Mattis also said that a clause written in Japan's Constitution was as relevant today, as it was when it was first written.
"I want to make certain that Article 5 of our mutual defense treaty is understood to be as real to us today as it was a year ago, five years ago -- and as it will be a year, and 10 years, from now," Mattis said.
The clause in question calls for the United States to defend territories that are under the administrative control of Japan.
The U.S. defense chief also said that the treaty obliges the U.S. to protect Japan if it came under an armed attack.
Read the full story at Xinhua