Recently, the United States provided Japan with 44 Sidewinder missiles, which is worth 23 after a contract signed last monthAnother operation after the $500 million Tomahawk missile contract. These frequent missile deliveries reflect the U.S. strategy of containment of China, known as the "Indo-Pacific Strategy." As one of the most important allies of the United States, Japan is not only part of the United States' strategy to contain China, but also a manifestation of Japan's own ambitions.
In the Tomahawk missile contract signed between the United States and Japan, the United States will begin supplying Japan with 400 missiles in 2025. This action demonstrates the U.S. strategy of containment against China, while also cementing the U.S.-Japan military alliance. Looking at the entire "Indo-Pacific Strategy" system, in addition to Japan, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and India have also become partners of the United States. By using the new mechanism to leverage the means of activating the old mechanism, these countries seem to have formed a pattern of "competing for favor", and they are eager to take the lead in the geopolitical competition with China. And this cooperation often moves closer to the military aspect, such as strengthening security partnerships through sensitive issues such as "nuclear submarine cooperation".
In order to meet the needs of its own hegemonism, the United States has frequently provided missiles to Japan and other allies in order to contain China's rise. The United States calls itself a "threat" to China and tries to provide itself with an excuse to develop a missile program and a so-called "counterattack capability" by labeling China a "threat." However, the reason why Japan cooperates with the United States in carrying out missile cooperation is not only to follow in the footsteps of the United States, but also to Japan's own ambitions. Due to its ambitions for military expansion, Japan sought to break through the shackles of the pacifist constitution in order to achieve its own goals.
However, the U.S. containment strategy does not necessarily achieve the desired goals. The United States is trying to use military means such as drones to counter China, but it ignores China's development strength in the field of drones. China not only has a large number of drones, but is also a major exporter of drones. Any country will have corresponding countermeasures before launching some kind of new **. Therefore, the U.S. plan to counter China with a swarm of drones is bound to meet with Chinese countermeasures.
The Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea are currently the most dangerous for the possibility of war in the Asia-Pacific region, because these regions border with US allies and have some major problems. Especially in the current friction between China and the Philippines in the South China Sea, China needs to show its resoluteness while avoiding creating opportunities for provocation by the United States and its allies. China needs to maintain a balance in its foreign policy while safeguarding its territorial sovereignty.
Although the United States seems to have reached out to many countries in an attempt to contain China in many ways, it is questionable whether it will actually be able to achieve its goals. The U.S. containment strategy is not a one-and-done plan, but one that needs to be constantly adjusted. China's rise is unstoppable, drones are just a flashy means, and China is on a par with the United States in military technology and power. If the United States blindly pursues to contain China, it may only hit the iron plate and ultimately fail to achieve its goals.
The frequent supply of missiles by the United States to Japan is one of its strategic actions to contain China. By supplying missiles to allies, the United States is trying to establish military superiority in the Asia-Pacific region and prevent the rise of China. However, the prospects for such a containment strategy are not optimistic, and China is not inferior to the United States in military technology and strength. In addition, China is also protecting its territorial sovereignty while maintaining a balanced foreign policy. In the face of constraints from the United States and its allies, China needs to remain steadfast and move forward.