In one of the biggest upgrades to the US-Japan alliance since its inception, the US will revamp its command in Japan, giving it a “direct leadership role” over American forces in operational planning in both peacetime and in potential crises, the countries’ defense chiefs and top diplomats announced Sunday, as the allies’ look to counter what they say is an increasingly assertive China.

The announcement, which came after “two-plus-two” talks between Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Defense Minister Minoru Kihara and their US allies, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, was among a number of fresh defense and security initiatives unveiled after the meeting, the first since January last year.

“The United States will upgrade the US Forces Japan (USFJ) to a joint force headquarters with expanded missions and operational responsibilities,” Austin told a joint news conference after the meeting. “This will be the most significant change to US Forces Japan since its creation — one of the strongest improvements in our military ties with Japan in 70 years.”