The United States should seize the opportunity, consistent with the “Asia pivot,” to commit the resources necessary to strengthen its ties to the region.
The failure of the Congressional Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (“super committee”) to come to agreement on reducing the federal deficit raises the real prospect of a total of $1 trillion in cuts to the defense budget over the next decade. These cuts have been put forth with little consideration for their long-term impact: a dangerous degradation of America’s capacity to deter, defend, and defeat her enemies. They will have a particularly negative impact on America’s ability to stabilize and influence Asia, a critical component of U.S. national security. While the past century has seen America establish a strong role in Asia, these gains would be jeopardized by the proposed enormous pending cuts in defense capability.
In March 2004, the last time controversy over the Senkaku (Diaoyutai) islands surfaced, the US State Department affirmed that the United States Mutual Security Treaty with Japan covered the islands.