2024-03-25 19:11:06
Military integration between the U.S. and Japan is expected to accelerate significantly as the U.S. and Japan push to upgrade the U.S. Military Command in Japan at a summit following Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s state visit to the U.S. on the 10th of next month. The main direction of the reorganization is to strengthen the command and control function of the U.S. Forces in Japan, which boasts the largest number of U.S. troops stationed overseas, and to lay the foundation for joint operations with the Japan Self-Defense Force in the event of an emergency. There is an analysis that there is a greater possibility that Japan, which has already acquired the ability to counterattack through the revision of the three major security documents, will go beyond its role as a rear base for the U.S. military and take on the role of a field command to keep China in check.
● Strengthening cooperation between the U.S. military and the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to combat the rise of China
According to the British Financial Times (FT) on the 24th (local time), the Joe Biden administration is establishing a new joint task force (TF) in the Pacific Fleet under the Indo-Pacific Command stationed in Hawaii as one of the measures to strengthen the command and control function of the U.S. Military Command in Japan. We are considering ways to make it.
This is a plan proposed by Indo-Pacific Command Commander John Aquilino, which would increase the size of U.S. forces in Japan by having the Pacific Fleet Commander, a four-star general, lead the task force and extend the period of stationing in Japan. Through this, the plan is to gradually strengthen the U.S. Military Command in Japan by permanently stationing the TF in Japan.
Japan’s Yomiuri Shimbun said, “A plan is being considered to leave command authority to the Indo-Pacific Command as it is now, but give the U.S. Forces in Japan the authority to establish U.S.-Japan joint exercises and training plans and share information with the Self-Defense Force Joint Operations Command (J-JOC).” He said.
As of the end of last year, US troops stationed in Japan numbered approximately 55,000, which is the largest number, surpassing US forces stationed in Germany (approximately 35,000) and US troops stationed in Korea (28,500). However, the U.S. Forces in Japan, with a three-star general (lieutenant general) as commander, is only responsible for a limited role, including administration and coordination of the operation of the command agreement. In particular, both the U.S. and Japan pointed out that in the event of an emergency, it is difficult for the coordination system between the U.S. military and the Self-Defense Forces to work quickly considering the 6,200 km physical distance between Tokyo, where the U.S. Forces in Japan headquarters is located, and the Indo-Pacific Command, which exercises operational authority, and the 19-hour time difference. has been raised continuously.
There is also an interpretation that if the U.S. military in Japan is upgraded this time, the tenor of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty signed in 1951 and revised in 1960 will change. This reorganization is said to be aimed at joint operations between the US Forces in Japan and the Self-Defense Forces in the event of an emergency. Until now, the concept was that the Self-Defense Forces played the role of a ‘shield’ and the US military as a ‘spear’ against external enemies, with Japan focusing on total defense, but if attacked, the US military would retaliate.
FT predicted, “If an immediate response posture between the U.S. Forces in Japan and the Self-Defense Forces is established through the U.S.-Japan summit next month, that in itself will be an important message to send to China and North Korea.”
● No matter who wins the U.S. presidential election, the role of the U.S. military will change
No matter who wins the November U.S. presidential election, there are observations that a readjustment of the role of U.S. forces stationed in the Indo-Pacific, including U.S. forces in Korea, is inevitable.
If former President Donald Trump wins, there are concerns that U.S. troops stationed in Korea and Japan could be withdrawn, reduced, or re-routed. Former National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien, who is mentioned as a candidate for Secretary of State if former President Trump returns to power, said, “The task of all allies, including Korea, is to respond to the challenge of China,” and said that the direction of security cooperation between Korea, the United States, and Japan, including the role of U.S. forces in Korea, may be readjusted. suggested. As the Biden administration is accelerating the strengthening of U.S. forces in Japan, there is analysis that it may be rushing to reorganize with the possibility of former President Trump coming back to power.
It is reported that the Korean government is also keeping an eye on plans to reorganize the U.S. Forces in Japan. This is because if a regional conflict that could change the entire security system in Northeast Asia in the future, such as China’s invasion of Taiwan, is maximized, there is a high possibility that Korea will be affected by this, such as the possibility of deploying U.S. troops in Korea.
A government source said, “The U.S. and Japan are expected to intensively discuss ways to dramatically improve the regional response capabilities of U.S. forces stationed in Japan, starting with the summit meeting next month.” Yang Wook, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said, “Unlike the U.S. Forces in Korea, which are centered on ground forces for the purpose of defending against North Korea, the U.S. Forces in Japan under the U.S.-Japan alliance have a relatively free scope of operation,” and added, “In preparation for the possibility of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, etc., the U.S. Forces in Japan is part of the U.S.-international strategy.” “The intention is to use it as a core force,” he analyzed.
Washington = Correspondent Moon Byeong-ki weappon@donga.com
Tokyo = Correspondent Lee Sang-hoon sanghun@donga.com
Reporter Shin Gyu-jin newjin@donga.com
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2024-03-25 19:11:06