Japan Self-Defense Forces to Jointly Use Civil Airports with US Military Even in Peacetime... Strengthening China Deterrence

Next Month in Washington: 2+2 Meeting of Foreign and Defense Ministers
Japan Self-Defense Forces and US Military to Use Japanese Bases, Airports, and Ports Even in Peacetime

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jinyoung] The US and Japanese governments are expected to hold a '2+2 Foreign and Defense Ministers' meeting next month to discuss a plan for the US military to share Japan's military bases, civilian airports, and ports even during peacetime. With Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida recently emphasizing defense enhancement through revisions to security documents, analysts suggest that the US-Japan alliance will take a more aggressive stance in countering China.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) on the 30th, on the 11th of next month, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi and Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada will meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Washington, US. Nikkei reported that a key agenda item will be allowing the US to use Japanese military bases, airports, and ports even during peacetime. Previously, the Japanese government decided to establish legal regulations from March 2024 allowing the Self-Defense Forces to use civilian ports and airports. This plan extends participation to the US military as well.

This implies that both countries are actively moving to counter China. Under the existing US-Japan Defense Cooperation Guidelines, Japan has effectively supported the US from the rear in logistics and transportation. However, sharing bases and ports with the US military can be interpreted as a shift from rear support to an offensive posture alongside the US. Furthermore, the areas Japan is considering for joint use include the Nansei Islands south of Kyushu, which border Taiwan, thus extending the scope of deterrence to Taiwan. Nikkei stated, "Even the US, which has the world's largest military power, would find it difficult to contain China in East Asia without access to infrastructure such as Japanese bases."

Internally, this move is seen as targeting Okinawa, where the Japanese government has repeatedly clashed over US military base construction. Nikkei reported that with this guideline revision, the Japanese government plans to focus on Okinawa's main island and the southwestern Sakishima Islands as key locations, and is also considering joint use of an ammunition depot near the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. Until now, ports and airports have been managed by local governments, allowing local leaders to refuse joint exercises, and the Self-Defense Forces have sometimes changed locations in response. For Okinawa, where public opinion toward the Self-Defense Forces is unfavorable, this effectively removes the right to refuse training.

The Kishida administration is strengthening the US-Japan alliance and revising security documents under the goal of enhancing defense capabilities. There are even concerns that Japan is moving toward becoming a 'war-capable nation' by allocating the maximum budget for US weapons contracts next year. According to the Asahi Shimbun, Japan's Ministry of Defense budget proposal for next year includes a record-high 1.4768 trillion yen (approximately 14 trillion won) for weapons contracts through US Foreign Military Sales (FMS). Japan plans to acquire Tomahawk cruise missiles, SM3 missiles, and others.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.