. 24/7 Space News .
SUPERPOWERS
New Pentagon chief seeks to underscore alliances with Japan, S.Korea
By Thomas WATKINS
Washington (AFP) Feb 1, 2017


New Pentagon chief James Mattis on Wednesday heads to South Korea and Japan, where he will seek to reassure the key US allies about American security commitments in the region.

The defense secretary's visit marks the first overseas trip of any senior official in the government of President Donald Trump, who suggested while campaigning that America's longstanding role in Northeast Asia could change.

"The trip will underscore the commitment of the United States to our enduring alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea (South Korea), and further strengthen US-Japan-Republic of Korea security cooperation," the Pentagon said in a statement.

On the campaign trail, Trump raised the possibility of Japan and South Korea arming themselves with nuclear weapons, and accused Seoul and Tokyo of not paying their fair share for US troops stationed in their countries.

Some 28,500 US troops are based in South Korea and 47,000 in Japan.

Mattis's visit comes amid heightened concerns over North Korea's nuclear ambitions and a simmering row between Tokyo and Seoul over the use of sex slaves during World War II.

According to South Korea's defense ministry, defense chief Han Min-Koo and his new US counterpart vowed Tuesday to push ahead with a plan to deploy a US anti-missile system this year despite angry protests by China.

The two allies last year announced the deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system following a series of atomic and missile tests by nuclear-armed North Korea.

The THAAD plan has infuriated China, which fears it will undermine its own ballistic capabilities and has slapped a series of measures seen by Seoul as economic retaliation.

Mattis will begin his trip in South Korea, where he will meet Han and other senior officials. The two countries are due to hold annual joint military exercises starting in March.

Trump's campaign rhetoric raised concerns in both Seoul and Tokyo, and in a statement South Korea's defence ministry said it hoped Mattis' trip would prove "an opportunity for the Trump administration to maintain and strengthen US commitment to defend the South and the unwavering US-South Korea alliance."

On Friday Mattis travels on to Tokyo for meetings with Defense Minister Tomomi Inada and other officials, the Pentagon said.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe -- who is scheduled to meet Trump next week in Washington -- told lawmakers he intends to press Mattis about "the significance of the Japan-US alliance."

Abe has repeatedly argued that Japan bears an appropriate share the costs of the alliance, which he stresses benefits the United States, Japan and the broader region.

Anthony Ruggiero, a North Korea expert from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said: "It was comforting to see the first cabinet-level trip was to East Asia, and in particular focused on North Korea."

- 'Mad Dog' -

Aside from defense concerns, the two Asian countries are locked in a diplomatic row over the wartime use of "comfort women."

Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women -- mostly from the then-Japanese colony of Korea but also from other parts of Asia including China -- were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II.

During his Senate confirmation hearings, Mattis stressed the US strategic interest in its alliances with Japan and South Korea.

"The United States is stronger when we uphold our treaty obligations," he said.

However, he added, "we expect our allies and partners to uphold their obligations as well."

Mattis, a retired four-star Marine general, sailed through the confirmation process with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Trump has said he will defer to his defense secretary on key issues, including the future use of torture on jihadist suspects, a move Mattis opposes.

Mattis is well-liked by US troops and lawmakers.

His reputation is one of a colorful former commander prone to swearing on the battlefield.

Marines under his command delighted in his pugnacious aphorisms, and the media dubbed him "Mad Dog," a nickname he hates.

He has been quoted as saying, "Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everyone you meet."

Mattis also has a well-known cerebral side: he issued reading lists to Marines under his command, and instructed them that the most important territory on a battlefield is the space "between your ears."


Comment on this article using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Learn about the Superpowers of the 21st Century at SpaceWar.com
Learn about nuclear weapons doctrine and defense at SpaceWar.com






Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
SUPERPOWERS
Russian government rules out defense spending cuts
Moscow (UPI) Jan 31, 2017
The Russian government has no plans to scale back defense spending in the coming years, according state media reports. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev recently discussed the Kremlin's plans to expand its production and grow its domestic defense industry. Funds for future projects, he said, have already been set aside. "Currently several programs are being implemented for u ... read more


SUPERPOWERS
Scientists and students tackle omics at NASA workshop

Mister Trump Goes to Washington

Airbus delivers propulsion test module for the Orion programme to NASA

NASA to rely on Soyuz for ISS missions until 2019

SUPERPOWERS
SmallGEO's first flight reaches orbit

Russia to check space flight engines over faulty parts

Russia to call tender for 2nd Phase of Vostochny Spaceport construction in Fall

A May Day return for Proton-M carrier rocket?

SUPERPOWERS
Similar-Looking Ridges on Mars Have Diverse Origins

Commercial Crew's Role in Path to Mars

Bursts of methane may have warmed early Mars

Long Eclipse Avoidance Manoeuvres Performed Successfully on MOM Spacecraft

SUPERPOWERS
China's first cargo spacecraft to leave factory

China launches commercial rocket mission Kuaizhou-1A

China Space Plan to Develop "Strength and Size"

Beijing's space program soars in 2016

SUPERPOWERS
Space, Ukrainian-style: Through Crisis to Revival

ESA Planetary Science Archive gets a new look

Iridium-1 NEXT Launched on a Falcon 9

Shaping the Future: Aerospace Works to Ensure an Informed Space Policy

SUPERPOWERS
U.S. Navy orders radar detection kits for MH-60R aircraft

New white paper reviews latest support for Redefinition of the Kilogram by 2018

A new approach to 3-D holographic displays greatly improves the image quality

UCLA physicists map the atomic structure of an alloy

SUPERPOWERS
First footage of a living stylodactylid shrimp filter-feeding at depth of 4826m

SF State astronomer searches for signs of life on Wolf 1061 exoplanet

Looking for life in all the right places with the right tool

Could dark streaks in Venusian clouds be microbial life

SUPERPOWERS
Public to Choose Jupiter Picture Sites for NASA Juno

Experiment resolves mystery about wind flows on Jupiter

Pluto Global Color Map

Lowell Observatory to renovate Pluto discovery telescope









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.