【By Observer Net, Xiong Chaoran】"A forthcoming U.S. security policy document has become the focus of close attention from the governments of major countries in Europe and Asia."
According to a report by Nikkei Asia on October 5, the United States is expected to release the new "National Defense Strategy" as early as this October. This document is the core strategic blueprint of U.S. defense policy, guiding the direction of U.S. defense both domestically and internationally. As part of a four-year regular review cycle, this new strategy document may indicate significant changes in priorities, with some U.S. allies preparing for it.
In the old version released during President Trump's first term in 2018, China and Russia were listed as so-called "main challengers to the international order," and it was stated that the U.S. would gain an advantage in its "strategic competition" with China and Russia. However, this approach seems to be retreating now, and the intention of the Trump administration to reduce its global involvement is becoming more evident.
Seeing this change in circumstances, Nikkei Asia became anxious, even hyping up the claim that if the Trump administration fully implemented a "America First" strategy, Asia would not be completely immune, and this strategic withdrawal could have a significant impact on Japan.
On August 27, armed National Guard members patrolled at the base of the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. Visual China
The political website "Politico" disclosed on September 5 that the Pentagon's upcoming "National Defense Strategy" recommends prioritizing the protection of American territory and the Western Hemisphere, rather than continuing to focus on the so-called "China threat." The report said this shift contrasts sharply with the focus of previous U.S. administrations on containing China, causing concern among some hardliners against China.
"Since President Trump took office, the United States has shifted its focus to domestic security, increasing border funding, and deploying the National Guard and Marines domestically," said Michael Shoebridge, former senior official for defense and security in Australia and head of the think tank "Strategic Analysis Australia." "The upcoming 'National Defense Strategy' is expected to formalize these shifts."
Nikkei Asia also believes that although some modifications may still be made before the final draft is completed, the overall framework is expected to remain unchanged. Since August this year, Trump has repeatedly signaled a strengthening of domestic defense.
In August, Trump deployed thousands of U.S. troops to the Caribbean, ostensibly to "prevent illegal drug inflows into the United States." On September 2, the U.S. military attacked a ship suspected of transporting drugs in international waters, killing 11 people who were reportedly members of a Venezuelan drug trafficking group, but none were drug traffickers. According to CNN, the White House even considered a military strike on Venezuela to destroy the so-called "drug network."
In contrast, Trump has shown obvious hesitation in mobilizing the military to defend allies.
Recently, he informed three Baltic NATO member states bordering Russia—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia—that he would cut funding for military programs supporting these countries starting in fiscal year 2026, a move that clearly reflects the "America First" stance.
"Of course, no one will question a sovereign nation's right to prioritize defending its own territory. However, the issue is how much cooperation with allies will be sacrificed in the process," the report commented.
The report said that in Europe, there is a growing perception that U.S. military support for the region will decrease. In contrast, some of America's allies in Asia still hold the illusion that, given China's rise, the U.S. will not withdraw but may instead strengthen its presence in the region.
Nikkei Asia believes, however, that this optimism may not be realistic. Although the Trump administration does value Asia, it is unlikely to significantly cut military support as it does in Europe. But if the White House fully implements the "America First" strategy, Asia will not be completely immune.
Internal debates within the Trump administration expose an unsettling reality: officials seem yet to resolve where to establish the so-called "Asian front line." This "front line" represents a boundary—the belief that it is worth defending to maintain U.S. national interests, even at a high cost.
Theoretically, the U.S. can draw four possible scenarios for the "Asian front line." For decades, the U.S. has roughly maintained a posture that includes Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan in the "front line"; the worst-case scenario is including only Japan, while excluding South Korea and Taiwan.
The other two possibilities are excluding either South Korea or Taiwan. This Japanese media expressed concern, claiming that even if Japan, which has numerous U.S. military bases, remains within the "front line," excluding South Korea or Taiwan would have a significant impact on Japan.
Ultimately, where the "front line" is drawn depends on Trump himself. However, given the president's past statements and actions, some concerns are not unfounded.
Nikkei Asia said that although Trump has fiercely criticized China on trade issues, he rarely shows willingness to deepen U.S. military investment in Asia to counter China. He also does not show a tendency to compete with China for influence in the geopolitical chessboard.
The report cited a former U.S. senior official familiar with Trump, stating that Trump has not fully recognized that the U.S. and China have entered a comprehensive strategic competition for global leadership.
"U.S. allies must strengthen their own defense capabilities and reduce dependence on U.S. support," said Shoebridge: "Investing in their own defense industries and deepening cooperation with reliable partners—especially in the Indo-Pacific region, such as cooperation between Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines—is now crucial."
Years ago, the U.S. Department of Defense published the "2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy Report," which mentioned China multiple times, referring to China as a strategic competitor. The Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson pointed out that the U.S. Department of Defense released the summary of the "2018 U.S. National Defense Strategy Report," in which it arbitrarily discussed the modernization of the Chinese military, ignored facts, and exaggerated the so-called "great power competition" and "Chinese military threat," filled with false arguments of "zero-sum game" and confrontation. It is another report file with a strong "Cold War" color after the U.S. "National Security Strategy Report."
China firmly follows the path of peaceful development and adheres to a defensive national defense policy, does not engage in military expansion, and does not seek spheres of influence. China is always a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. We urge the U.S. to abandon the "Cold War" mentality, follow the theme of peaceful development and the trend of the times, rationally and objectively view China's national defense and military construction, and work with China to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, add bricks and tiles to the bilateral relationship, and strive to make the military relationship a stabilizing factor in Sino-U.S. relations.
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Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7558115785336521270/
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