Now mudi expanding military ties with Japan despite Trump Critique of the Alliance

Tokyo – The President of Trump in early March criticized what characterized as a single-sided safety alliance between the US and Japan. Officials in Japan heard the comments of Mr. Trump before, and so far they have continued to shape national plans for the country’s national security based on the United States support.

Government officers admit that they really don’t have another choice.

“There is no plan B for Japan except the US,” Takuya Akiyama, The main deputy director of the Bureau for North American Bureau in the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the news about the CBS. “The contract is wise and as a physical presence, no other country can replace the USA, it is inconceivable.”

Now Can be withdrawn from Europe Under the President Trump, but despite his remarks of Japan, American military cooperation with Tokio appeared stable, and can even expand while the White House increases its supervisivity in Asia more Assertive Superview, China.

China’s threat to his neighbors

Japanese officials may have gave way to relief after visiting Prime Minister Shigeru in the White House in February. The Trump Administration confirmed its commitment to Japanese defense, including a condition in Tokyo with Beijing over ownership of Senkaku Islands.

This is one of the many ownership disputes owned by the country between China and its neighbors over the islands in Southern Sea – Almost everything Beijing claims as his territory. The White House has repeatedly condemned Chinese aggression Both militarization in southern Chinese sea and American warships and aircraft routinely perform “Freedom of navigation” exercise in the area – often drawing sharp renovations from Beijing.

Counselors Japanese Prime Ministers spent months after the US choice prepared by the meeting with Mr. Trump. They focused on the use of clear and summary language to convey the advantages of the US Security Association, and the increase in Japan has made it its own consumption and military procurement from America, according to officials in the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

China was fast Strengthening your military optionsIncluding its nuclear program, in recent years, according to American officials. Last year, she announced China 7.2% increases in their defense budgetwhich was already second highest world, behind only the United States.

Taiwan condemned China in February and arranged his own forces as well as the Chinese army Drills “Recording” held In Taiwan Streit.

“From the American perspective, it is clear that if Taiwan falls, and if Japan falls, our Indo-Pacific Federation are over,” Kenneth Weinstein said, Japanese Chair in Hudson Institute Think. “China will perform an extraordinary military army – will be able to close global delivery like her, he will be able to enter him approach the Southern Sea and elsewhere.”

There were already tense meetings between Japanese and Chinese naval vessels around the island of Senkak, a group of uninhabited islands hard and Beijing and Tokyo. According to the coast guard, the Chinese government vessels entered the maritime zone around the island, which China calls Diaoyus, at 355 out of 366 days 2024 – which in 2008. reported in 2008. years.

Chinese vessels working around the island have increased not only in number, but also in weapons, carrying more and larger weapons while circulating the disputed territory, according to officials on foreign and defense ministries.

While Japanese analysts do not believe that the Chinese military invasion on Senkak are, they say that there is a risk that an accident or incident involving fishing or other non-military vessels could lead to rapid military escalation.

“The Chinese Communist Party believes in power. They started acting because they now have the power to do so,” said China Expert Akio Takahara, a professor at Chjian University in Tokyo, on the news in the Tokio CBS. “We want now to increase their presence in this region, because the Chinese will certainly not improve their presence in the region.”

Main reinforcement on US-Japan defensive cooperation?

In the last years, Japan renewed its access to the Defense, including the commission to spend 2% of its GDP on 2027. Japan announced a major policy in the country, exclusively defensive holding up with a decision to acquire opportunities in the occasion.

The Trump administration seemingly approved the changes, and did not ask Japan an even greater increase in defense consumption because some Japanese officials were scared.

While Mr. Trump appealed especially this month on the hypothetical readiness of Japan to fulfill his interstatement of the US defense obligation under Article 5 US-Japan Security AgreementJapanese officials tried to focus more on Article 6, under which Japan provides bases and facilities for US forces. And that aspect of the relationship could be set up for expansion.

The United States and Japan were in discussions, because Mr. Trump returned to the White House on a possible establishment of a shared seat in Japan. If this happens, it would upgrade the role of US forces in Japan to the operating body command. The dialogue over the upgrade was announced within the Biden Administration, after the Japanese has requested.

In the case of a regional security crisis – such as the Chinese attack on the Taiwan or the challenged seat of the southern porcelain in Japan, the US military would provide the US military ability to respond orders from the American Indo-Pacific Command on Hawaii.

The American Defense Minister Pete Hegsetth is expected to meet with his Japanese counterpart in late March to discuss the efforts to facilitate American forces in the Pacific region.

Concern about Ukraine

Dramatic Trump Administration Baby In your attitude Ukraine They also asked concern in Japan. Since Russia has launched its full invasion in February 2022. year, Japan was a caution in Ukraine. Japanese officials take care of a precedence that would be placed if seen that we are encountered by the partner nation in the face of the invasion of a stronger neighbor.

“In the light of Russian aggression against Ukraine, the perceptions of security countries have changed drastically around the world,” then said Japanese Prime Minister Fumi Kishida at the June 2022 Regional Summit. Years, a few months in Russian invasion. “I have a strong sense of urgency that Ukraine may be East Asia today.”

The Japanese fear that if the United States and the world has greatly accepted the change in European borders that Russian aggressions are forced, they could also refuse to intervene in the case of a Chinese attack on Taiwan.

“The Chinese will encourage that, perhaps if Xi Jinping does something similar, Trump will be so kind to XI while in Putin,” said Professor Takahara. “That message type will be received in Beijing.”

Officials in Tokyo try to remain focused on long-term bilateral relationship with Washington, looking outside the Trump administration, but they know that China is closely looking at the ratio of the outer policy of the Trump.

“We don’t know what Mr. Trump will talk tomorrow and do the day after. So, at least a visit to Ishiba, the first round, we’re fine. We were happy in that,” Takahara said. “But what about the next round? When is he coming? No one knows.”