Japanese media reports: The United States and Japan plan to "unify the mobilization of troops" Japan | Japanese US military | troops
According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun on August 6, the US government and Congress have begun to discuss the modification of the deployment system of US troops stationed in Japan. There is a proposal to establish a coordination agency in Japan responsible for aligning with the Japanese Self Defense Force regarding the use of troops and action plans, and to establish a unified system for mobilizing Japanese and American troops during the outbreak of war.
According to reports, the 2024 fiscal year defense authorization bill passed by the US Senate at the end of July mentions the modification of the US military system in Japan, requiring the Ministry of Defense to study a unified system responsible for the mobilization and utilization of land, sea, air force, and marine corps in Japan, and to deepen cooperation with the Self Defense Forces. In an interview with the Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Whitman, a Republican and vice chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, pointed out that "in an extremely severe environment, time will determine the outcome" in response to the "something is wrong in Taiwan". He made it clear that the House of Representatives will also discuss the provisions on the US military presence in Japan explicitly stipulated by the Senate.
The US Senate and House of Representatives will begin unifying their respective defense authorization bills in the fall, and the US military system stationed in Japan will become one of the focal points. According to multiple sources, the Biden administration has also begun discussing adjusting the deployment of US troops in Japan.
There are two reasons why the US advocates the establishment of a coordinating body, according to the report. Firstly, it is because Japan has the ability to counterattack. The clear division of labor between the US military as the "spear" for conducting attacks and the Self Defense Force as the "shield" for defense has faded. The Self Defense Force has enhanced its capabilities in all areas such as land, sea, air, space, and the internet, which can easily overlap with the role of the US military. The importance of adjusting the roles of Japan and the United States has increased. Secondly, there is no organization in Japan that oversees the entire deployment of US troops stationed in Japan. The US military headquarters stationed in Japan handles issues such as US military bases and generally does not participate in the integrated use of land, sea, air force, and marine corps. At present, the Indo Pacific forces, which have established a headquarters in Hawaii, are responsible for integrated operations and coordination with the Self Defense Forces.