America’s ‘unsinkable aircraft carrier’ is preparing itself for an increased leadership role in Asia, one which is slated to be both internationally and constitutionally controversial.
Japan is currently engaged in a heated island dispute with China, and Abe’s remilitarization campaign is constrained by Article 9 in the Japanese Constitution. Amidst all of this, the US is doubling down on its military commitment to Japan as it pivots its military more and more towards Asia.
Yoichi Tamaki, Japanese political analyst, Brian Yeung, an independent contributor to Chinese and English media in Hong Kong and Mikhail Mozzhechkov, independent journalist and the head of the Russian Club in Tokyo commented on the issue.
Yoichi Tamaki, Japanese political analyst
Andrew Korybko: We have been discussing the Obama-Abe summit, and I’m wondering what’s your take on this summit? And what does it mean for Japanese-American relations?
Yoichi Tamaki: I could say this summit concludes Abe’s reform of the Japanese defense policy, but the Prime Minister Nakasone said in the 1980s, he said that Japan is something like an unsinkable aircraft carrier of the United States of America. But at same time Japanese defense policy and the alliance with United States of America has come a long way as Japan provides finance and bases in the Japanese territory, and the United States protect your Home Islands. But Abe tried to push Japanese defense policy to be more about mutual cooperation, not only with logistical support but something where the Japanese self-defense forces can put boots on the ground.
Brian Yeung, an independent contributor to Chinese and English Media in Hong Kong
Andrew Korybko: We are discussing Shinzo Abe’s visit to the US and my last comment for that. This is, in my assessment, viewed against China in some ways as the US is trying to accelerate its pivot to Asia and doubling down in the Asia-Pacific against China. What are your takes on that? How is being interpreted in East Asia?
Brian Yeung: I think that’s quite right because today, watching the news headlines, this is what we’re seeing. Basically, the Congress is only talking about China. They talk about two major things, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and its military pivot to Asia. China also has the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and if you look at the number, the TPP has 12 countries, but China’s bank has more than 40. A lot of countries joined because they hadn’t seen another option yet, but the US wants to challenge this with the TPP. Another thing is that the US wants to collaborate more with Japan on military affairs. It wants a joint-force defense. The US military might help Japan with the island dispute with China.
Mikhail Mozzhechkov, independent journalist and the head of the Russian Club in Tokyo
Andrew Korybko: We are discussing Prime Minister Abe’s visit to the US. Do you think that the deepening of the US military commitment to Japan will have some negative repercussions perhaps for the South Kuril Islands dispute?
Mikhail Mozzhechkov: I suppose so, because one of the reasons I think, deep inside of the problem between Russia and Japan would be that Russia might say that if we withdraw from those islands then American military bases can appear there, for example, the US has been trying to solve the issue of its military bases on Okinawa for many years, so if they get the Kuril Islands by any case, maybe they can solve the problem like that and Russia will get American military bases right under its belly.
