TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan pledged Friday to remain committed to enhancing the deterrence and response capabilities of its alliance with the United States, despite media reports indicating Washington could halt the expansion of its forces in the Asian country as part of defense spending cuts.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters that there is "no change" to the bilateral plan that was confirmed when Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and U.S. President Donald Trump met in February, noting that "further efforts are necessary to strengthen the alliance."

Earlier this week, CNN and NBC News reported the Trump administration was reconsidering the plan based on a Pentagon briefing document in a move that could save around $1 billion.

There has been wider cooperation in recent times between the Self-Defense Forces and the U.S. military to better address security threats posed by North Korea and China.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi, the top government spokesman, echoed Nakatani's view, emphasizing the importance of a strong bilateral alliance amid the severe security environment in the region.

"We hope to discuss boosting interoperability and responsiveness as well as the respective command and control frameworks of the SDF and the U.S. military," Hayashi said at a regular press conference.

Under the security pact between the two nations, U.S. military forces are stationed in Japan. Most are in Okinawa Prefecture close to both Taiwan, a potential flash point due to Beijing's claim on the island, and the Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea.

Trump's return to the White House on Jan. 20 has raised concern that his administration may pressure Japan to shoulder most of the costs associated with hosting U.S. forces.