Part 6/8:
China's territorial ambitions are evidenced by increased military activities and provocations. President Xi Jinping's recent directives to prepare for conflict signal a more aggressive military strategy, which includes both Taiwan and Japan in its sights. The rise of tensions has led to troubling considerations about the security commitments the US may need to uphold in the event of a major escalation.
The Present and Future of US-Japan Relations
As both Japan and the US brace themselves for the next phase in their relationship amid electoral changes—Trump's reelection bid and Ishiba's new leadership—the stakes remain high. The contrast between Trump’s strong grip on US Congressional power and Ishiba’s fragile coalition government in Japan presents a landscape of unpredictability.