Facing Revisionists with Power

President of United States Donald Trump announced new National Security Strategy on Monday. News reports in Japan stressed that Trump administration changed US security policy toward China and Russia from something based on dialogue to relying on power. His diplomacy is supposed as requiring further role of its allies, based on unilateral principle of America first.

Asahi Shimbun introduced a chapter of NSS 2017 related to protecting US citizens and homeland that indicated strict immigration policy to enhance border control as the core element of security policy. “In the chapter of ‘Promote American Prosperity,’ it argued that economic growth and innovation would lead to maintaining the strongest force and protecting homeland,” described Asahi.

For Japan, US security policy toward China or Russia can have crucial meanings. Newspapers in Japan focused on that NSS 2017 defined China and Russia as “revisionist powers.” It is true that China has been challenging US power or interest by building military outposts in South China Sea, or that Russia was extending its influence not only to Crimea, but to US politics through cyber space.

Trump emphasized in his remarks about NSS 2017 that US would not tolerate those challenges. “This strategy recognizes that, whether we like it or not, we are engaged in a new era of competition. We accept that vigorous military, economic and political contests are now playing out all around the world,” told Trump. US attitude toward China has turned from “constructive and cooperative relationship” in Barack Obama administration into adversary.

Asahi criticized Trump’s security strategy as dangerous, interpreting it to be relying on military power to appeal America First and sticking to economic benefit. “The strategy says it to be a realism to win in the competition against China and Russia threatening United States,” the editorial denounced, “It is a usual shallow thought and self-righteousness.”

Nikkei Shimbun predicted further role of US allies including Japan. “Supposedly, Trump administration will not deal with the issue on China and Russia by US itself, but require further contribution of Japan, Australia or European states. The same can be said in North Korean issue. ‘Why doesn’t Japan try to shoot the missiles down?’ Trump has said when North Korea launched missiles over Japan,” the article revealed. There is a fundamental concern in Japan whether it will be safe under US security strategy.