US Arms Buildup Brings Tension

A fresh tension is being created in the Asia-Pacific region from the outset of the new year due to the US.

In the wake of deploying sophisticated F-35B stealth fighters in its military base in Japan, the US decided to dispatch B-1B strategic bombers and F-22 stealth fighters to its air-force base in Australia.

It is the first time that F-35B has been put on permanent standby overseas by the US. It is planning to expand the radius of operation of F-35B in Northeast Asia, notably moving the matrix port of assault landing ship mounted with those fighters to the southern area of Japan from the US mainland next year.

In the wake of paving a way for the deployment of multi-purpose modern SM-6 missiles in the areas of south Korea, Japan and Australia, Washington also clarified that it would send ultra-modern high-performance early warning plane E-2D Hawk Eye to Japan.

This indiscriminate arms buildup of the US is sparking off serious concern of the international community as it is a dangerous act of harassing peace and stability not only on the Korean peninsula but also in the rest of Asia-Pacific.

The main purpose of the US pivot to Asia-Pacific strategy is to contain and deter big regional powers and establish its domination in reliance on military upper hand and nuclear edge.

It is in pursuance of this strategy that the majority of the US strategic nuclear force has been concentrated on Asia-Pacific and the region is witnessing the establishment of the triad nuclear carrier system, improvement of performance of already-deployed strategic nuclear bombers and nuclear missiles, and development and deployment of high-output laser artillery pieces, unmanned tactical vehicles and ultra-fast strike weapons.

Triangular military "cooperation" among the US, Japan and south Korea is also being boosted.

The US is describing its "alliance" with south Korea and Japan as a "cornerstone" and "core axis" of its Asia-Pacific strategy and using them as a shock brigade in executing its strategy.

Shortly ago, an American political commentator in an article said that the US Asia policy orientation depends on Trump doctrine.

He continued that the truth of return to Asia policy was disclosed during the Obama administration but the US has worked under concrete plan to form a triangular military alliance with Japan and south Korea since several decades ago.

The US claims the alliance is to tackle nuclear threat from north Korea but the essence is to use Japan and south Korea for realizing its strategy of domination over neighbouring countries and several regions in the world, he said, adding that if Japan is a suitable location for the armed forces of the three services of the US, south Korea is the only base for its ground force to set its foot in the Asian continent and that the US forces present in south Korea is targeting other forces in the Asian continent from every aspect, not just to cope with nuclear threat from north Korea.

The tripartite military "cooperation" is also being expanded as part of the second-phase process of the Asia-Pacific rebalancing strategy.

The US facilitated the signing of an agreement on protection of military intelligence between south Korea and Japan under the pretext of "nuclear and missile threats from the DPRK" and allowed the establishment of Aegis naval missile shield linking the US and Japan and the overseas dispatch of the Japan "Self-defence Forces".

The US is stepping up the arms buildup to realize its Asia-Pacific strategy while spreading the story of "threat" from someone, but it can never cover up its criminal intention.

The situation clearly proves that peace and security on the Korean peninsula situated in Asia-Pacific, Northeast Asia to be specific, present themselves as a very important international issue.

Countries need to heighten vigilance against the ill-boding arms buildup of the US.

KCNA