The announcement follows recent remarks by Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to Kazakhstan, where he called on allies to strengthen unity, seen by many as a response to Western influence.

One of the focal points of the initiative includes upgrading Japan’s squadron of F-15C/D fighter jets stationed at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. The current fleet of 36 aircraft will be replaced with 48 advanced Boeing F-15 EX models, according to a statement from the Department of Defense.

Additionally, the overhaul will extend to Misawa Air Base, located 400 miles north of Tokyo, where 36 older F-16 fighter aircraft will be phased out in favor of 48 new-generation F-35 A models. Further upgrades are planned for Iwakuni in southern Japan, although specific details on aircraft replacements were not disclosed.

In a press release, the Department of Defense emphasized that stationing these advanced tactical aircraft in Japan underscores "the unwavering U.S. commitment to Japan’s defense and the shared objective of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region".

The transition to the new fleet is expected to span several years, during which both older and newer model aircraft will be rotated to ensure operational readiness.

The U.S. announcement comes in the wake of President Xi Jinping’s attendance at a security bloc meeting in Kazakhstan, where he urged member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) – including Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan – to strengthen collaboration against external interference. The SCO, established in 2001, has been positioned as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO and the European Union.

Belarus, labeled as Europe’s last absolute dictatorship, recently joined the SCO, underscoring its expanding influence. Notably absent from the recent SCO summit was India, a key member alongside China and Russia in the BRICS alliance, which also includes Brazil and South Africa.

China’s relations with India have been tense in recent years, adding further complexity to the geopolitical dynamics in the region amidst military build-ups and strategic alliances. (ILKHA)