We use cookies on this website. By continuing to use this site without changing your cookie settings, you agree that you are happy to accept our privacy policy and for us to access our cookies on your device.
Transcript/ScriptUS JAPAN CHINA SECURITY (TV)
HEADLINE: US-Japan Alliance Strengthens as China Tensions Rise
TEASER: US debates joint military headquarters as Japan aims to transform its defense capabilities
PUBLISHED AT: 08/23/2023 at 11:38a
BYLINE: Henry Ridgwell
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Tokyo
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Ridgwell
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: LR, Mia Bush
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Reuters, APTN, AFP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB _X_ TV _X_ RADIO __
TRT: 3:20
VID APPROVED BY: Reifenrath
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[The United States, Japan and South Korea agreed to deepen military cooperation and condemned China’s “dangerous and aggressive behavior” in the South China Sea following a trilateral summit last week. China has dramatically increased military activity around Taiwan, which Beijing sees as part of its territory, prompting fears that it could launch an invasion. As Henry Ridgwell reports from Tokyo, Japan and the United States are boosting military coordination and capabilities as tensions rise in the region.]]
((NARRATOR))
Chinese planes and warships once again encircled Taiwan in recent days.
Just how ready is Beijing to go to war over Taiwan?
[[RADIO VERSION: Grant Newsham with the Center for Security Policy:]]
((Grant Newsham, Center for Security Policy)) ((Zoom))
“They have put the pieces in place. We've seen them testing that over the last year and a half or so. They've gotten the missiles, the cyber, the electronic. They've got their ships and aircraft out and about, and the last piece that I think we're going to see this fall is the rehearsal for a landing exercise.”
((NARRATOR))
Others say Beijing recognizes the risks involved.
[[RADIO VERSION: Christopher Johnstone is an analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.]]
((Christopher Johnstone, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((Zoom))
“An amphibious operation across 100 miles of ocean against an island that is pretty well fortified and has pretty inhospitable terrain - that remains a high-risk endeavor.”
((NARRATOR))
Washington has a long-held policy of “strategic ambiguity” on whether it would intervene militarily over Taiwan. But the U.S. and its regional allies are enhancing military cooperation.
The U.S. has 50-thousand troops deployed in Japan. The alliance needs better coordination, argues Newsham.
[[RADIO VERSION: Again, Grant Newsham with the Center for Security Policy.]]
((Grant Newsham, Center for Security Policy))((cf. Zoom logo))
“There is no joint headquarters between the Americans and the Japanese, and that's after 60-plus years of a defense alliance. So that is baffling. It needs to be addressed quickly.”
((NARRATOR))
The U.S. Congress is debating reform of the military command structure in Japan to facilitate better coordination with Japanese forces, including a joint headquarters.
Meanwhile, Japan last year announced a near-doubling of its defense spending by 2027.
[[RADIO VERSION: Again, Christopher Johnstone, of CSIS who is also a former director for East Asia at U.S. National Security Council.]]
((Christopher Johnstone, Center for Strategic and International Studies)) ((cf. Zoom logo))
“Japan is where the United States projects power from, and that's the starting point here. But increasingly, Japan is an important military power on its own accord, both in the kinds of capabilities that it has -- it has F-35 fighters, for example, an exceptionally modern and capable navy, strong missile defense capabilities. And now, as they embark on a new national defense strategy, investing in capabilities like long-range strike missiles.”
((NARRATOR))
Tokyo residents who spoke to VOA supported the increase in defense expenditure.
((Shizuka Nishizawa, Tokyo Resident - FEMALE in Japanese))
“Although Japan has its own self-defense forces, it cannot protect its own country from an attack from the outside. Who knows what might happen? There is the issue of the war in Ukraine, so no one can predict how it will turn out or how the world will change.”
((Ryuichi Kuriagawa, Tokyo Resident - MALE in Japanese))
“Ours is an island nation. We need missiles and fighter jets. We need to put more effort into this.”
((NARRATOR))
China’s actions have driven regional allies closer – and prompted Japan to overhaul its armed forces.
((VIDEO: ENGLISH VERSION: REPORTER STAND-UP / HOUSE VERSION: VOA FOOTAGE OF TOKYO))
((Henry Ridgwell, VOA News))
“Political change of this kind in Japan is normally slow. But the government plans to transform the nation’s defense capabilities in the space of just four years.”
((Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News, Tokyo.))
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)
Toyko
Embargo DateAugust 23, 2023 17:04 EDT
Byline
Henry Ridgwell, for VOA News
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
