The japanese government said the runways
will be paved and used for u.s navy and
marine corps planes to simulate aircraft
carrier landings. Though it did not give
a time frame in which that could be
accomplished as the deal still needs to
be finalized. But once suitable facilities are
constructed the island could also become
a permanent base for japan's
self-defense forces, as tokyo looks to
strengthen its position along the east
china sea. Where it faces competing
claims from china over the japanese
administered senkaku islands, known as
the diau islands in chinese.
"The purchase of Majashima Island is
extremely important and serves for
strengthening deterrence by the japan
u.s alliance, as well as japan's defense
capability," the Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary said in announcing the deal.
U.S Military officials in japan said
they could not comment on the purchase. Buying majishima has been the subject of
talks for years. Tacit on airport the company that owns
most of the island, finally reached an
agreement with the government in late
november. The island was identified as a suitable
site for use by the u.s, as a permanent
base for field carrier landing practice
under the 2011, agreement outlining the
realignment of u.s forces in japan.
The 146 million dollar deal. Also comes as the u.s military is
hearing calls to increase the number of
its strategic bases in east asia in the
face of a growing chinese missile
arsenal. The majority of u.s combat air forces in
japan are concentrated in just six bases. Recent studies including one from the
united states study center at the
university of sydney published in august
say with their current resources the us
forces would be vulnerable to chinese
missile strikes early in any conflict.
One way to mitigate that is to spread
u.s troops and assets out among more
bases. The alliance would be more resilient if
bases and hardware were more dispersed. The theory goes the more bases you have, the more missiles an adversary would
need to fire to overwhelm its target and
gain an advantage in a combat
scenario. Over time the diversification
of japanese and american bases
individual or joint will be a trend, said Corey Wallace an asia security analyst
at frey university in berlin.
The alliance would be more resilient if
bases and hardware were more dispersed. The theory goes the more bases you have, the more missiles an adversary would
need to fire to overwhelm its target and
gain an advantage in a combat scenario. Permanent land bases are considered more
valuable than aircraft carriers because
they can withstand a great number of
munitions. In theory a carrier can be taken out
with a single missile or torpedo.
Battle damage to land bases can also be
repaired much more quickly than a
complex war machine like an aircraft
carrier. When you target and sink an aircraft
carrier it is irreversible, said Kolinko
a research fellow at the Rajaratnam School of International studies in Singapura. As for an island, at the very least it doesn't sink. you can take the time and effort to
bring it back to operation again, ko said.
The new base is also a good sign for us
japan defense cooperation which has seen
strains in recent years on two fronts, localities have put pressure on the
japanese government to move us military
activity away from population centers
and u.s president has pushed allies like
japan to take some financial load off
u.s taxpayers. On the former point wallace says
majushima could eventually see
operations from u.s marine corps osprey
tilt rotor aircraft. Taking some of the
load off current airfields on the main
islands and okinawa.
Similarly the government could be
expected to push back against any
challenges to the Majoshima plan from
the nearest island of takashima 8.5
miles (14 km) to its east and from
where it is administered. In the larger international picture
japan is making the right move to keep
its most important ally the united
states happy, said Ko the singapore
analyst.
As a practice field Majoshima will also
be more convenient for u.s carrier
pilots. Many of which now fly out of
marine corps air station Iwakuni on the
japanese main island of Honshu. The flyers now practice carrier landings
known as touch and go landings on iwo
jima, also known as IWO2 almost 850 miles, 1,360 kilometers away. Flying to majoshima would cut the
journey by 600 miles (960 kilometers). down the line Wallace says Majushima
could provide for some new cooperation
between the u.s and japanese military
specifically involving f-35 stealth
fighters.