Security alliance threatens stability

The United States and Japan are planning the biggest upgrade to their security alliance since they signed a mutual defense treaty in 1952. According to reports, US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce plans to restructure the US military command in Japan to strengthen operational planning and military drills between the two nations.

That Biden is to host a summit with Kishida and Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. next month has fueled concerns that the upgrading of the US' military alliances with the two countries will only aggravate the tensions in Asia.

What is more worrying is the fact that Japan is trying to urge Washington to strengthen the command structure in Japan. It wants the leader of US forces stationed in Japan to have more authority, which will make it easier for US forces and Japanese Self-Defense Forces to take joint military action. The military alliance between the US and Japan has been upgraded several times. Every step that has been taken to strengthen the alliance has helped Japan advance along the road to becoming a full-fledged military power.