Japan's Government and Ruling Party Concerned About the US "Stepping Away from Asia"

With the escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, there is concern within Japan's government and ruling party that the Trump administration is accelerating its "withdrawal from Asia."

To address China's continuously growing military strength, the US military presence is indispensable, but the current situation in the Middle East is unpredictable. If the conflict becomes prolonged, it could affect the US's strategy toward China.

"The US military forces are currently concentrated in the Middle East, and we are closely watching the impact this will bring," said Keiichi Iwamoto, director of the Middle East and Africa Bureau at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during a meeting of the House of Representatives' Committee on Foreign Affairs on March 6, in response to a question from a Liberal Democratic Party member about whether the dispersion of US military forces would lead to a decline in the Indo-Pacific deterrence capability.

A week has passed since the military actions initiated by countries including the US. President Trump has shown a stance of being willing to engage in a prolonged war, and the situation shows no signs of easing.

A sense of crisis prevails within Japan's government and ruling party: if the US military focuses on the Middle East, its deterrence power in Asia will decrease accordingly. Trump advocates for the "Monroe Doctrine" emphasizing the Western Hemisphere, and LDP officials have openly expressed concerns: "We worry that the US may neglect Asian affairs."

On March 19, a summit between Japanese and US leaders will take place in Washington. Prime Minister Hayato Kōshi plans to confirm with Trump, who is scheduled to visit China at the end of the month, the importance of the US's focus on participation in Asia. However, the situation in the Middle East remains tense, and the future is unclear. A former official with experience in the LDP cabinet said: "Requesting Trump to pay attention to Asia at this time might be futile."

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1859055267684362/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.