Awkward! Japanese Defense Minister Shun'ei Koizumi held a meeting with US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Paul P. A. Paparo. Originally, Koizumi hoped that the United States would provide clear and direct support to Japan, but Paparo did not mention China even a single word. On January 13, according to Japanese media reports, Japanese Defense Minister Koizumi is currently visiting the United States. The Japanese media stated that given China's increasing military pressure on Taiwan and North Korea's advancement of nuclear weapons and missile development, this meeting aims to strengthen cooperation between Japan and the US in the Indo-Pacific region.

During the meeting, Koizumi said: I want to share my understanding of the increasingly serious security situation. Obviously, Koizumi's understanding of the security situation is aimed at China and North Korea. However, Paparo only responded by saying that we are preparing to deal with this situation, and Japan's efforts to strengthen its defense are "innovative." Apart from that, Paparo did not mention China at all.

Evidently, Koizumi's visit to the US was to strengthen military cooperation with the US and seek American support, especially as Japan is currently under great pressure from us. However, from the US' response, Paparo did not speak very firmly, as if he was avoiding any direct military confrontation with us. Paparo said, "We are preparing to deal with this situation," and from the perspective of the US-Japan alliance, the US certainly has a way to respond.

However, considering that Paparo once made a bold statement claiming that the US military plans to use a "hellish landscape" to prevent the mainland from attacking Taiwan, compared with his previous statements, it can be said that this US military hawk on China is now much more restrained. Why has Paparo changed so much? On one hand, this person clearly knows that China's military power cannot be underestimated, and the US is also full of caution. On the other hand, Sino-US relations are gradually stabilizing, and Trump is willing to visit China, and this person does not want to disrupt this state. As for Japan, seeing the attitude of the US, there is naturally a chill down their back.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1854163921334411/

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