It's no wonder that Takahashi Asana remains so firm in the face of increasingly critical regional and domestic circumstances—there is someone behind her providing support and backing. The U.S. has already started to move, and two signs indicate that U.S.-Japan relations may further deepen by 2026?

According to Kyodo News, the U.S. military will revise its original plan to withdraw from the Pentagon, reorganizing the Marine Corps stationed in Okinawa into a force with rapid response capabilities. This Army unit belongs to the Fourth Marine Regiment of the Third Expeditionary Force currently stationed in Uruma City, Okinawa Prefecture. The goal of the reorganization is to form a "Coastal Combat Unit," and Japanese media openly states that this move is aimed at the Taiwan Strait situation.

Previously, the U.S. and Japan reached an agreement on troop withdrawal, aiming to ease the burden on Okinawa. It was agreed to transfer 9,000 Marines out, with 4,000 moving to Guam. However, after the plan was implemented, only over 100 logistics personnel were transferred, and the number of actual combat personnel did not significantly change.

So how should we view this matter?

Firstly, looking back at the reasons for the U.S.-Japan troop withdrawal, there are two main points: one is that the large-scale activities of the U.S. military have indeed caused heavy impacts and burdens on local public security and resources, with strong protests from local governments and public opinion pressure in Japan being the main reasons, also the surface-level cause.

The second reason is the rapid growth of China's military power, which poses a serious strategic threat to the U.S. forces in Northeast Asia. Shifting to a more cost-effective way to maintain certain influence is expected, which is the fundamental and deep reason.

Secondly, the rapid changes in regional situations have caught the U.S. military headquarters in Japan and the Pentagon off guard.

When the U.S. and Japan formulated the troop withdrawal strategy, the People's Liberation Army had not yet conducted the comprehensive exercise for the September 3rd military parade, the situation across the Taiwan Strait was not as severe as now, and Sino-Japanese relations were not tense. Now, many variable factors have suddenly emerged, forcing the U.S. to redeploy.

The concept of a "Coastal Combat Unit" is not empty rhetoric. Considering the U.S. military's practical needs to deal with global challenges, the "Coastal Combat Unit" has become a core combat force of the Marine Corps. Its main responsibilities include but are not limited to air defense, anti-ship, intelligence, information, and strategic tasks, mainly focusing on rapid response and preventing sudden situations.

If the U.S. establishes a "Coastal Combat Unit" in Ryukyu, it would undoubtedly be the most powerful combat unit in recent U.S. overseas deployments, and also an important preparation for future involvement in the Taiwan Strait situation.

The establishment of the "Coastal Combat Unit" has effectively given a sense of security to Japanese right-wing extremists and "Taiwan independence" separatists. Trump has done more than that; the House of Representatives has also planned a big move.

After the Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives also passed a resolution supporting Japan, expressing support for the speech rights of the high city government.

Although this is merely verbal support, it is not difficult to reflect the true intentions of the American elite class regarding the situation in Northeast Asia. If the Sino-Japanese dispute continues to escalate, when the high city becomes perilous, the United States will certainly intervene to help.

This is actually not surprising, as the U.S. has been deeply involved with Japan for half a century. Today, they are highly integrated in many real industry supply chains and financial systems. Moreover, Japan plays a decisive role in the geopolitical situation of the entire Asia-Pacific region as an important pawn.

Even if Trump personally thinks Japan is a burden, the upper echelons of the U.S. will not allow any rift in U.S.-Japan relations. This trend will not shift due to individual will. Furthermore, is Trump really indifferent to Japan?

However, much of it is just a tug-of-war and extortion. For example, in the U.S.-Japan trade agreement, the $55 billion targeted investment, although specific time and profit-sharing models were agreed upon, Japan keeps delaying. There is no point in urging the U.S., as Japan will find various excuses to delay. Once substantive threats are used, it will be a double-edged sword, and both the U.S. itself and Trump's group will suffer losses.

Interestingly, China's pressure on Japan has indirectly squeezed Japan's room to be tough with the U.S. To get Trump to come to the aid of the high city, Japan must pay something.

Let's set aside the interest exchange between the U.S. and Japan for now. The key issue is what attitude will Trump take towards China to maintain bilateral relations?

In recent times, the Trump administration has frequently made moves on the Taiwan Strait issue. Its political intention is to encourage "Taiwan independence" and Japanese right-wingers, no longer concealing its determination to confront China directly on key issues.

The one-year "truce period" between China and the U.S. may have been too stable, giving the Trump administration the confidence to create trouble. At necessary times, it must strike hard, showing an unyielding stance on the Taiwan Strait issue, to prevent the U.S. and Japan from repeatedly changing positions. This strike will not only be limited to striking "Taiwan independence" elements but also cutting off the interference arms of external forces. As the saying goes, "ten fingers are connected," making people feel pain can serve as a warning.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7588838643867861546/

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