*American tariffs and unpredictability have rattled the Asia’s most dependable partnerships, forcing Japan and others to debate a more independent future.*
*Alastair Gale for Bloomberg News*
There is a growing debate in Japan about the need for strategic independence. Japan has long been the most dependable US ally in East Asia, a vital bulwark against China and a base from which the US military can project its power across the Pacific, including in any potential conflict over Taiwan. That such a debate is taking place shows the extent to which Trump has eroded US credibility in the region.
And if Japan wavers, other countries may not be far behind. There’s strong public support for acquiring nuclear weapons in South Korea — another key ally questioning Trump’s commitment after he tied US security guarantees to trade negotiations. Many in Australia are also questioning the wisdom of a multibillion-dollar agreement with the US and UK to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over 30 years. And while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been staunchly in the US camp, allowing the Americans access to several military bases near Taiwan, his opponents are far more skeptical of Washington and may retake power in three years.
For some foreign policy experts, the idea that US alliances in Asia are at risk of unravelling is overblown. The darker view is that the Asia-Pacific region may be on the cusp of destabilizing change, as fraying US alliances raise the risk of conflict, geopolitical realignment and nuclear proliferation.
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*American tariffs and unpredictability have rattled the Asia’s most dependable partnerships, forcing Japan and others to debate a more independent future.*
*Alastair Gale for Bloomberg News*
There is a growing debate in Japan about the need for strategic independence. Japan has long been the most dependable US ally in East Asia, a vital bulwark against China and a base from which the US military can project its power across the Pacific, including in any potential conflict over Taiwan. That such a debate is taking place shows the extent to which Trump has eroded US credibility in the region.
And if Japan wavers, other countries may not be far behind. There’s strong public support for acquiring nuclear weapons in South Korea — another key ally questioning Trump’s commitment after he tied US security guarantees to trade negotiations. Many in Australia are also questioning the wisdom of a multibillion-dollar agreement with the US and UK to develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines over 30 years. And while Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been staunchly in the US camp, allowing the Americans access to several military bases near Taiwan, his opponents are far more skeptical of Washington and may retake power in three years.
For some foreign policy experts, the idea that US alliances in Asia are at risk of unravelling is overblown. The darker view is that the Asia-Pacific region may be on the cusp of destabilizing change, as fraying US alliances raise the risk of conflict, geopolitical realignment and nuclear proliferation.
[Read the full essay here.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-08-21/japan-weighs-backup-plan-as-trump-s-erratic-diplomacy-strains-alliances)
Nothing-burger! Japan knows exactly its place in this equation. What narrative is Bloomberg trying to push and on whose behalf?
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