US Plans to Boost Pacific Air Power to Counter China

By IndraStra Global News Team

The U.S. is set to enhance its Pacific air power in a move that analysts interpret as an effort to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region and counteract China's growing influence. The U.S. Air Force has announced a $10 billion plan to modernize its forces by upgrading over 80 fighter jets stationed at bases in Japan over the next few years. This strategic upgrade aims to reinforce the U.S.-Japan alliance and bolster the U.S. presence in the region.
According to the Defense Department, this modernization effort is crucial for maintaining a balance of air power between the allies and China. James Schoff, a senior director at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA, emphasized that these upgrades, in conjunction with Japan's own military investments, are essential for preserving the credibility of the U.S. deterrence capability. Without these enhancements, the U.S.'s ability to deter aggression could be significantly weakened, potentially emboldening Beijing to take more assertive actions, especially concerning Taiwan.
Recently, the Taiwanese Defense Ministry reported spotting 37 Chinese aircraft near Taiwan, heading towards the Western Pacific for drills with the Shandong aircraft carrier. This is part of a pattern of aggressive maneuvers by Chinese jets and warships around Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of its territory. Such activities highlight the ongoing tensions and the strategic importance of maintaining a strong deterrent presence in the region.
In March, former U.S. Indo-Pacific Commander John Aquilino informed the Senate Armed Services Committee that China could soon have the world's largest air force. Currently, China ranks as the third-largest air power globally, following the United States and Russia.
China's swift military modernization has resulted in a fleet of over 3,150 aircraft, with approximately 2,400 of them being combat aircraft, including fighters, bombers, and attack aircraft, as detailed in the Pentagon's 2023 report on China's military power. Liu Pengyu, a spokesperson for the Chinese Embassy in Washington, stated to VOA on Monday that U.S.-Japan relations should not aim to target or harm other countries' interests, nor should they jeopardize regional peace and stability.

Enhancing Defense for Japan and the Region

The planned upgrade, featuring advanced F-35 jets, aims to bolster U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) in their mission to deter North Korea and protect Japan's Southwest Islands, as well as safeguard Taiwan, according to James Przystup, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. This initiative is crucial for addressing Japan's territorial disputes with China over the Senkaku Islands and with Russia over the Northern Territories.
The U.S. aircraft upgrade plan includes modifications to several deployed F-35B jets at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi prefecture, south of Hiroshima. Additionally, Misawa Air Base in northern Aomori prefecture will replace 36 F-16 aircraft with 48 F-35A jets, enhancing the region's defense capabilities.

Aircraft Rotation During Upgrades

At Kadena Air Base on Japan's southern island of Okinawa, 48 F-15 C/D jets will be replaced with 36 new F-15EX jets. During the upgrade period, a rotation of fourth- and fifth-generation tactical aircraft will be implemented, as stated by the Pentagon. This move aims to enhance the capabilities of U.S. Forces Japan (USFJ) and strengthen the U.S.-Japan alliance against threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, according to Ryo Hinata-Yamaguchi, a professor at the University of Tokyo and a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Indo-Pacific Security Initiative.
The upgrades are expected to provide significant boosts in both quantity and quality to the USFJ's inventory, enhancing not only aerial operations but also naval and amphibious capabilities for both the U.S. and Japan. These platforms are designed to offer technological superiority in combat and advanced electronic warfare capabilities, which can exploit the weaknesses of China, North Korea, and Russia. China often conducts joint air drills with Russia near South Korea and Japan. In December, Chinese and Russian jets entered South Korea's Air Defense Identification Zone, prompting a response from Seoul.
David Maxwell, vice president of the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy, emphasized that the U.S. bases in Japan provide significant operational flexibility to address various contingencies in Asia, whether on the Korean Peninsula, the South China Sea, or elsewhere. Okinawa, situated about 740 kilometers from Taiwan and 990 kilometers from South Korea's southern port city of Busan, hosts Kadena Air Base, the largest U.S. installation in the Indo-Pacific. Zack Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, highlighted the importance of rotating aircraft presence at Kadena during the upgrade transition to disperse forces and reduce vulnerability to attacks from Chinese ballistic and cruise missiles. This dispersion strategy aims to mitigate the risk of concentrating U.S. forces in one location, enhancing overall security.
With reporting by Voice of America (VoA)

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