The United States is significantly strengthening its Indo-Pacific alliance amid security threats posed by China. As Voice of America correspondent Henry Ridgewell from Tokyo reports, the Pentagon has significantly improved the military command in Japan. But how ready are the United States and its allies to act in the event of a conflict?
The United States has about 54,000 troops stationed in Japan, with most of them in Okinawa. Kadena Air Base is America's largest in the Pacific.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin held talks Sunday with their Japanese counterparts as they announced a major shift in defense matters.
“The United States will reorganize US forces in Japan into a joint force headquarters with expanded operational missions and responsibilities”said US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The new command will be headed by a three-star general, Kunihiko Miyake with the Foreign Policy Institute tells VOA.
“This means that the Americans are really serious about fighting alongside Japan. Against whom? I do not know. They may have to fight against anyone who wants to forcefully change the status quo.”
The new measures aim to further enhance Japan's Joint Operations Command, says Grant Newsham with the Center for Security Policy.
“It's a good first step towards putting the Americans and the Japanese in a position where they can fight together. But it remains to be seen. It is important how much authority it will have, what units and what responsibility it will have in case of an emergency?”
Last year Japan announced plans to double defense spending to around 2% of gross domestic product by 2027. Mr Newsham says the Japanese military first needs huge investment in weapons, logistics and recruitment.
“How will you prepare to fight alongside the Americans? Have the necessary planning and training been done to be ready in the event of an emergency situation?”asks analyst Newsham.
There is concern that such an emergency may be imminent. The United States and Japan have labeled China the “biggest strategic challenge” facing the region as Beijing has increased its military presence in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.
US officials say Washington is trying to link its regional alliances to create a framework for protecting the security of the Indo-Pacific.
“Of course, we cannot have a collective alliance system like NATO, because we have a different historical background. But we need a multi-layered security agreement,” says Kunihiko Miyake with the Foreign Policy Institute.
The Philippines is a key part of this alliance. The United States announced a $500 million military aid package for Manila on Tuesday.
“For the so-called new network of alliances and agreements that the Americans have tried to form, the question is, with whom they can carry out an emergency operation? I mean, in the event of a real war, which countries would provide support? It can be a very short list,” says analyst Newsham.
Beijing denies it poses a threat to Indo-Pacific security. On Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called on the United States and Japan to abandon what he called a “Cold War mentality.”
Russia said on Wednesday that it appeared the United States and Japan were preparing for armed conflict, adding that Moscow was consulting China and North Korea on how best to respond.
