Japan tries to 'Trump-proof' security ties as US defence chief wraps up farewell tour

Tokyo boosts alliances with trilateral meetings and exercises amid China's naval deployment

- Walter Sim

TOKYO - As US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin wrapped up his three-day farewell tour of Tokyo on Dec 11, China was amassing what Taipei describes as the largest maritime fleet deployment in recent memory.

Analysts are trying to decipher China's real intentions. Was the show of force to protest against Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's tour of the Pacific last week, which also included stopovers in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam?

Or was it meant to intimidate US regional allies Japan, Australia, the Philippines and South Korea, while sending a message to incoming president Donald Trump?

Whatever China's intentions, the consensus among observers is that the brinkmanship exemplifies what has come to be seen as East Asia's gravest existential threat - a bloody invasion waged by Beijing on self-ruled democratic Taiwan, which China deems a renegade province to be unified with the mainland.

Trump's return as US president with his inauguration on Jan 20, and the big-power confrontation that he is likely to wage against China, means many expect the volatility and unpredictability in the region to intensify.

Given this turbulence, Tokyo has stepped up to shore up the latticework of partnerships that were forged under the outgoing Joe Biden administration, through a series of trilateral meetings and exercises this week that coincided with Mr Austin's visit.

Senior officials from Japan, the US and South Korea met - on Dec 9 to discuss North Korea, and on Dec 11 to talk about the Indo-Pacific. The first Japan-US-Philippines maritime dialogue was convened on Dec 10.