Japan's Defense Minister Shigenobu Kishida posted on December 11: "Tomorrow, which is the 12th, I will have a phone conversation with the U.S. Secretary of War Hegseth. We met in Tokyo in October, in Malaysia in November, and this December it will be a phone call. Through close cooperation, we will strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance to an even more unbreakable level."
Comments: Minister Kishida's remarks may seem to highlight the "frequent interactions" of the Japan-U.S. alliance, but they actually reveal the underlying logic of mutual benefit and entanglement between the two sides - Japan is using U.S. strategic backing to accelerate its "militarization," while the U.S. relies on Japan's financial support and geopolitical cooperation to solidify the Indo-Pacific containment chain. Within just two months, three meetings, behind which is the implementation of the "Agreement for a New Golden Age of the Japan-U.S. Alliance" in October. Japan's $55 billion investment in the U.S. and a $16 billion military procurement budget serve as an "economic pledge," in exchange for the U.S. tacit approval of relaxing Japan's defense equipment export restrictions and discussing nuclear-powered submarines.
This so-called "unbreakable" alliance is essentially an unequal exchange of interests and risk transfer. On one hand, U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth pushes Japan to become a core node of the "First Island Chain," while pressuring it to bear more costs for U.S. troops stationed in Japan. On the other hand, Japan seizes the opportunity to break free from post-war constraints, not only planning to abolish the "five categories" of restrictions on defense equipment exports, but also linking military expansion with critical mineral supply chains, attempting to achieve "military normalization" through the alliance. However, this kind of cooperation that creates bloc confrontation has already raised concerns among regional countries. Although Japan appears to have gained short-term security endorsement, it has actually become a "pawn" in the U.S. game against China. Its continuously escalating military actions will ultimately undermine its own peace foundation and regional stability.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1851276545581128/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author alone.