By: Sophie Bi

This Sunday, July 28th, 2024, the United States’ and Japan’s officials announced they were taking “historic” steps to reinforce their military alliance. This was in response to the growing threat of China, North Korea, and Russia’s influence on the Indo-Pacific area.

The purpose of this statement was to acknowledge the fact that China had grown more assertive over the Indo-Pacific region and in other areas like East China. According to MSN, “The statement is lined with concerns about Beijing, including over its growing nuclear arsenal, its destabilizing aerial and maritime actions, its dismantling of freedoms in Hong Kong, human rights abuses committed in Xinjiang and Tibet and its harassment of Filipino vessels in the South China Sea.”

To reinsure peace and control, the United States and Japan are working closely under a joint headquarters and starting to increase their air defense capabilities. According to the New York Times, United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said during a news conference that, “The U.S. will have a direct leadership role in planning and leading U.S. forces in both peacetime and in potential crises…and that will give us an opportunity to work more closely together to ensure greater peace and stability.”

With the presidential race ending soon, officials are worried about which party will take control of foreign alliances. Likely presidential candidates are current Vice President Kamala Harris and former president Donald J. Trump. Now, both seem to have an equal chance of prevailing. Although Harris, who was endorsed by President Biden, supports alliances with Japan, leaders see Trump as a threat to their wellbeing. The New York Times notes that “officials are more concerned about the…return…of Mr. Trump, who has often criticized his nation’s military alliances as costly and not to America’s benefit.”

If Trump is not supportive of foreign alliances, he could potentially weaken ties with Japan if he becomes president. This would leave the country in a dangerous position against China.