US to restructure military command in Japan, report claims

Editor’s Note: This piece by Seth Robson features quotes from CSP Senior Fellow, Grant Newsham.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will reveal a plan to restructure the U.S. military command in Japan next month in light of concerns over China, The Financial Times reported Sunday.

The aim is to boost military planning and drills involving the allies, according to the newspaper, which did not reveal its sources. The two leaders will announce the plan during a meeting April 10 at the White House, the newspaper said.

U.S. Forces Japan, headquartered at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, referred queries Monday to the Office of the Secretary of Defense. A spokesman for the office, John Supple, by email to Stars and Stripes declined to comment on the newspaper’s report.

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That would put U.S. and Japanese officers together coordinating training, drills, patrols and plans related to Japan’s defense, Grant Newsham, a retired Marine colonel and senior researcher with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies in Tokyo, said by email Monday.

“One wonders if the two sides will come up with an interim – and more immediate response – say, combining naval forces to a greater degree,” he said.

Alternatively, the two sides could try to perfect the concept before moving, which could mean a delay of five to 10 years, he said.

“One doesn’t really get a sense of urgency on either side — and especially from the Pentagon,” he said. “Meanwhile, the PRC (China) and PLA (Chinese military) aren’t standing still.”

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