U.S. and Japan Eye Defense Treaty Overhaul in the Face of China and North Korea Threats

The largest scale since the Mutual Defense Treaty in 1960
Propelling the U.S.-Japan combined forces, similar to the South Korea-the U.S. combined forces
There is a high possibility that the U.S armed forces in Japan will secure operational authority in case of emergency

The United States and Japan are preparing for the largest defense treaty revision since the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty was signed in 1960, according to a report by Yonhap News on the 25th, citing the Financial Times (FT).

The FT reported, “U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will announce plans to reorganize the U.S. armed forces in Japan to strengthen the development of operational plans and training of the U.S.-Japan at the summit in Washington D.C. on the 10th of next month”.

The proposal is to establish a U.S. joint dedicated organization connected to the U.S. Pacific Fleet. The FT reported that “strengthening the support structure for Japan is the key.”

This is intended to strengthen military cooperation and operational planning between the U.S. and Japan in response to threats from China, including the Taiwan conflict.

This review responds to criticisms that it is inconvenient for rapid response in case of emergency because of the distance between the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii and the Japan Self-Defense Forces, which are 3850 miles away and have a 19-hour time difference.

Currently, there are about 54,000 U.S. military personnel in Japan, but the U.S. armed forces in Japan have a limited role, such as coordinating the status of forces agreement. The operational command authority lies with the Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, which will be transferred to the U.S. forces stationed in Japan.

The FT predicted that if an immediate reaction posture is established between the U.S. forces in Japan and the Japan Self-Defense Forces through the U.S.-Japan summit next month, it will send an important message to China and North Korea.

Earlier, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated during a press conference held during his visit to Japan on the 21st that “the command and control method of the U.S. and Japan will also be discussed at the summit.”