Pete Hegseth, the secretary of defense of the United States, is traveling to Japan. This explore needs to be more than just friendly exchanges, where reaffirming the US-Japan alliance as being good and where ambiguous improvements are discussed, and where ambiguous completion dates are needed. If that’s all, he might as well stay at home and conduct the investigation over Zoom.
Hegseth should be able to report back to the United States and discuss what he accomplished that improved the US and Japanese warfighting powers, both individually and collectively. He’ll do well to get a list of items the US military needs from the Chinese. This list is presumably held by US Indo-Pacific Command ( USINDOPACOM). Or at least it ought to.
Buddies tell the honest stories.
Secretary Hegseth will also be required to speak out despite being told no to. Remember previous Japanese Prime Minister Kakuei Tanaka’s guidance to the Americans who were squabbling over requesting an aircraft carrier depot in Yokosuka in 1970:
Show us what you need, and be persistent.
A senior Chinese official just said,”  ,  ,
” Tell us what we’re doing incorrectly.” Only our companions will impart that to us.
Don’t just rascal around the edges, aiming for more challenging activities or more challenging ones.  ,  ,
What both parties have done for the past 25 times has failed to stop the Chinese and People’s Liberation Army from growing steadily. The PLA evolved from a power that was initially amused to one that now operates aircraft operators in Taiwan, Taiwan, and South of Japan.  ,
A marine task force lately cruised through Australia‘s Port Phillip in a display of intimidation and contempt. The China Coast Guard and Navy are more frequently and in more areas leaned on the Chinese than just in the Senkaku Islands.
Hegseth may get something if he asks it of Japan. On the Chinese side, there are competent officers who want things to advance. However, panels don’t always remain open. And one Asian man refers to it as a “race against day.” One hopes that Hegseth’s staff may provide him with the record aforementioned. However, here are a few things I do list.
A genuine ally, not just a game of tricks
Second, take into account what the PRC would not like the least. That’s a Japan Self-Defense Force that is well-equipped and ready for combat and actively working with American troops on a regular basis. Create a lasting, combat-ready US-JSDF task force. For a force has always existed despite the US-Japan military alliance’s more than 60 years.  ,  ,
Build a , Joint Task Force – Nansei Shoto, one idea. With Japanese and American workers and marine, atmosphere, and ground forces assigned to the combined task force, and having its headquarters in , Okinawa .  ,
The Nansei Shoto, which are constantly under Foreign control, would be used to protect Japan’s southern territories. It would also include Russian attacks. This could be moving in three weeks with a little planning. socially difficult? Simply if you want it to be that way.  ,  ,
A permanent power with a real-world objective has a different energetic than putting up regular, lovingly crafted exercises. A Japan Task Force – Nansei Shoto also means more than just statements of “rock-solidness.” It might also serve as a precursor to a mutual US-Japan operating headquarters in Japan, which would cover the entire nation.  ,
Additionally, it might avoid making US Forces Japan ( USFJ) a warfighting command for the time being. That appears to be creating unnecessary difficulties for the US side and drawing attention from the Department of Government Performance.
Review the initiative to examine defense policy.
The Defense Policy Review Initiative ( DPRI ) agreement, which will force US forces to leave Japan at a time when the threats to Japan are growing, is another item I’d add to the list.
The DPRI, which was established in 2006 after many years of negotiations, was founded on the flimsy conviction that US troops in Japan, particularly the US Marines stationed in Okinawa, had a potential threat to the US-Japan security relationship as a whole.  ,
Many of them were moved elsewhere, including Guam, Hawaii, and also up to the continental United States, as a result of the thought.
China , wasn’t regarded as a difficulty up then. If anything, the idea was that the PRC would be a responsible client and deregulate with adequate commitment and the “open hand of friendship” as well. Yet the Marines thought of China as a friend they had never made.
The Americans were requested by the Japanese, but they were also asked to return ( and die for Japan ) if things got dangerous. In fact, it frequently appeared that the Japanese saw the US military appearance as more dangerous than the PRC. One of the Chinese diplomats told me he wished they had re-do the bargain some decades later after the China threat became clear.
Talk up or drop behind
After many years of a pause, troops have just begun moving from Okinawa to Guam. Marine leaders are slowly claiming they can’t carry out the necessary missions if DPRI is carried out. They must argue their case.
And DPRI needs to be rethought right away. You’ll hear,” It’s too hard” . ,
No. The breaching celebration in Fallujah is” to painful.” Everything else is merely a problem.  ,
However, perhaps the US-Japan connection is still in its prime. And in any case, Americans adapt, improvise, and triumph. They’ve already done it. That may be accurate, but it also means that many Americans will have to spend our way as we progress. There is no reason to believe that we will often prevail despite our successes in the past.
Hegseth therefore needs to find his record and specify what he requires. And don’t forget that both methods work.  ,  ,
The Americans should also be informed of what the Chinese have. And don’t be afraid to ask.  ,
All of this may cause some resistance. However, the US-Japan connection doesn’t need another love-fest. It needs to be able to unite in a struggle.
When China Attacks: A Warning to America is the creator, retired US Marine official Grant Newsham.
This content was first published by Japan Forward. Asia Times is republishing it with agreement.  ,