As Asia simmers, US steps up military presence in Japan

In agreement with Japan, the United States has decided to increase the presence of military forces in the Asian nation due to the rising tension in the Indo-Pacific.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and their Japanese counterparts Minoru Kihara and Yoko Kamikawas said in a joint statement that the area poses strategic challenges.

The tensions in Asia have been growing in recent years as North Korea pushes its nuclear weapon program and strengthens its ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine.

China has also grown closer to Russia as its weapons and artillery necessities grow due to its long and intense military campaign in Ukraine. However, that is not the only threat China poses.

According to AP News, China has sparked unease among many countries in the Asia-Pacific region for years. The news agency claims the main reason is its maritime claims over the South China Sea.

Another source of tension is China’s claim over Taiwan. Recently, Beijing performed a series of military drills encircling the island just days before a change of government.

According to AP News, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said China is “engaging in coercive behavior, trying to change the status quo” in the press conference following the bilateral security talks.

Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said: “We are standing at a historic turning point as the rules-based, free, and open international order is shaken to the core.”

According to CNN, the two countries agreed to upgrade the military forces and modernize their alliance by “reconstituting” them as a joint command.

AP News said that the US military has over 50,000 troops in Japan. The plan is to give the US Forces Japan headquarters greater capabilities to coordinate the bases in the country.

Still, the USFJ will have no direct head; it will respond to instructions from the US Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, which has always been in charge of the forces in Japan.

The plan will likely include military equipment, as AP News points out. The joint statement said the US would commit to “extended deterrence,” which includes nuclear weapons.

The agreement represents a shift in Japanese defense policy. According to CNN, the country is drifting away from its post-WWII pacifist constitution imposed by the United States.

A good example is its recent openness to discussing atomic weapons, a sensitive issue for the only country in the world that has suffered an attack, as nuclear threats from Russia and China grow.

According to CNN, the country has also committed to increasing its defense spending to about 2% of its GDP by 2027 and acquiring counterstrike capabilities.

The plan is the latest in a series of agreements to deepen Japan-US military bilateral ties. In April, the two countries agreed to accelerate their arms industry cooperation.

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