New US-Japan security initiative aims to counter China hegemony

THE United States and Japan are elevating to an unprecedented level their multilateral military and security alliance with India, South Korea, Australia and South-east Asia. The new initiative coincides with Chinese Navy ships suddenly appearing near Philippine-owned islands this month, and China's continuing confrontation with India on the border.

US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono and Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera in Washington on Aug 17 when they made a commitment to deepen and broaden their military cooperation with their Asian allies.

They pointedly pressured North Korea to end its provocative militarisati…