US, Japan Bolster Military Ties

Facts

• The US and Japan announced on Wednesday a significant strengthening of their military relationship, which includes the formation of a US Marine unit on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa designed for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and the ability to fire anti-ship missiles.
• Both Japan and the US reportedly perceive a greater military threat from China, North Korea, and Russia — especially in light of recent declarations of stronger ties between those three nations.
• The US and Japan's partnership that calls on each side to come to the other's defense — codified in Article V of the US-Japan Security Treaty — is deepened and is extending the scope of their cooperation across land, sea, air, and now into cyber- and outer-space.
• The reinforced security cooperation "to prevail in a new era of strategic competition" follows a year of US-Japanese talks and comes after Japan last month announced its most extensive military build-up since WWII — reportedly prompted by perceptions of China's increasingly aggressive behavior in the region.
• Both countries reportedly agreed to adjust the US troop presence on Okinawa, including improving anti-ship capabilities in the event of a Chinese invasion of Taiwan or other geopolitical tensions. US Pres. Biden and Japanese PM Kishida will meet Friday to underscore the significance of deepening relations.
• A senior administration official speaking on condition of anonymity said, “This is about Japan essentially aligning with the United States, in many ways like a NATO ally.”

Sources: CNN, New York Times, SCMP, Reuters, Al Jazeera, and Washington Post.

Narratives

• Anti-China narrative, as provided by Wall Street Journal. Japan, which holds the largest permanent contingent of US forces overseas, can no longer solely rely on US support — a fact that this latest plan acknowledges. The new strategy fortifies the US and Japan's vigor and will reshape their ability to promote peace and protect the Indo-Pacific region as China attempts to aggressively exert its influence.
• Pro-China narrative, as provided by Global Times. Japan is groundlessly discrediting China. By adopting this new policy, Japan is putting itself on a more offensive footing, and deviating from its commitment to China-Japan relations and the common understanding between the two countries. Hyping up the so-called "China threat" to find an excuse for its military build-up and alignment with the West is doomed to fail.

Predictions