But as the Americans hack away at the jungle overgrowth at Tinian island airfield and other old, World War II-era bases across the region, it will not be with Japan on their mind.
Rather, it is Beijing's growing influence in the Pacific that is spurring the recovery of a slew of abandoned runways on the 100 sq km speck of land that makes up Tinian, part of the US territory of the Northern Mariana Islands.
"Rehabilitation of World War IIera airfields has provided Pacific Air Forces (Pacaf) a rapidly executable avenue to enhance infrastructure in the region," a spokesman said.
Though the statement mentioned a "sense of urgency" enabling Pacaf to "enhance... warfighting capability and improve deterrent posture alongside Allies and partners", it did not mention China directly.
But Washington's plans for what officials have described as "an extensive" facility on Tinian comes amid a serious military pivot to the Pacific in recent years - and as China builds its own new bases in the region, including in disputed waters.
Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin December 31, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Straits Times dergisinin December 31, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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