As tensions continue to rise in the Asia-Pacific region, Japan and the United States are modernizing their military alliance while China and Indonesia are making moves to increase their presence. On February 2nd, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told the lower house budget committee that the government was in discussions with the American side on Japan's security.
“We’re modernizing our military alliance, building on Japan's historic increase in defense spending and new National Security Strategy,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in an interview with CNN.
Meanwhile, China's Defense Ministry said it had dispatched an army contingent from the People's Liberation Army to the Philippines to help dispose of land mines and survive in Southeast Asian jungles.
Although the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) prohibits a permanent U.S. presence on these bases, it permits a “light and flexible” presence, allowing US forces to move in and out with ease.
The US defense secretary told CNN he hadn't spoken to Chinese counterparts yet, and the contact comes as the two countries continue to build up their forces in Asia.
In early February 2023, the son of Japan's former defense minister, Nobuchiyo Nobuchiyo, was elected Governor of Tokyo. Nobuchiyo is a classic example of the hereditary politics that remain in Japan. The new governor announced a one hundred billion euro special defense fund and vowed to increase Japan’s military spending.
He also declared a push for greater military and defense capabilities, and so is greater political and security engagement in Asia.
Chinese claims in the political hotbed of the South China Sea have led to a surge in military activity in the region. For within Asia, Indonesia's place as a preeminent regional power is becoming increasingly apparent.
Indonesia is looking to strengthen its presence in the region, with plans to invest in its defense capabilities, and increase its military presence in the South China Sea.
“Indonesia is on a forward-leaning trajectory,” said Eleanor Shiori Hughes, defense analyst at Washington-based business advisory The Asia Group.
The long-term security implications of these military strategies remain to be seen. For now, Japan and the United States are focused on modernizing their alliance, while China and Indonesia are taking steps to increase their presence in the Asia-Pacific region.
