Sugio Takahashi Counter A 2 / AD in Japan - U . S . Defense Cooperation : Toward ‘ Allied Air - Sea Battle ’

Since the Cold War, the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty has been the lynchpin of the regional security architecture. The alliance served as the key mechanism to ensure U.S. military presence and commitment to the Asia-Pacific. In addition to the modernization of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) military capabilities, U.S. military presence manifested through bases in Japan, and Japan-U.S. military cooperation based on the Japan-U.S. Defense Guidelines have been the pillars of the alliance and regional stability in the Asia-Pacific. The rise of China during a period of Japan and U.S. budget austerity requires creative discussion on defense cooperation between the two allies. China has invested a great deal of resources to develop robust “anti-access / area-denial” (A2/AD) capabilities. Furthermore, China’s rapid economic growth may cause a geostrategic “power shift” in the global strategic landscape. Even in the absence of a clear