22vPaX

asia policy
against China, given its capability to destroy China’s major infrastructure
and military facilities in a war scenario. As discussed earlier, China’s major
bases in the South China Sea at Sanya, Woody Island, and Fiery Cross, as
well as perhaps Scarborough in the future, have huge strategic significance;
however, they also possess vulnerabilities, especially from incoming
precision-guided missiles. Because all these key bases are exposed to attacks
from the sea and the air, they could be targeted by the long-range strike
capabilities of U.S. forces.
Washington should send a clear signal to Beijing that the United States
does not tolerate unilateral and aggressive actions that violate established
international norms. It is also important to signal that to deter China’s
adventurism and provocations, not only in the South China Sea but within
the entire Asian region, the United States is determined to exercise its
military capability when necessary. From Japan’s perspective, this type
of action by the United States will make a real contribution to regional
stability, which the Asian coastal states have long awaited.
Japan, as a major allied partner of the United States, should provide
support to U.S. forces operating in the region for this purpose. In order
for Japan to do so, the JSDF should bear more responsibility for air and
maritime operations in the western Pacific and the East China Sea.
Increasing the missions of the JSDF would enable U.S. forces to assume a
more flexible deployment posture in other areas, depending on U.S. strategic
requirements, rather than remain tethered to operations in Japanese waters.
In particular, expanded roles for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
(JMSDF) in Japanese waters would relieve the U.S. Navy from old missions
and increase its capacity for more antisubmarine warfare operations in the
South China Sea. The JSDF’s new operational posture would also improve
U.S. forces’ flexibility to maintain an uninterrupted presence in the region.
Support U.S. freedom of navigation operations. Recently, the U.S. Navy
and Air Force conducted freedom of navigation operations in the vicinity of
China’s artificial islands by sending the USS Lassen within twelve nautical
miles of one of the islands and later by overflying B-52 bombers. The Royal
Australian Air Force reportedly conducted its own freedom of navigation
operations with a P-3 Orion in mid-December.
Japan strongly supports such operations. As a seafaring nation and a
close ally of the United States, Japan should take clear and visible action
to support freedom of navigation at the earliest opportunity. Sending
JSDF aircraft and ships to the region for this purpose is considered to be
constitutional in Japan. The best way for Japan to realize this maneuver
[ 34 ]