U.S. Plans to Reinforce Its Military Forces in Asia

The U.S. Department of Defense submitted its Quarterly Defense Report on 1st suggesting that it will keep the current military force without curtailing it as well as it will set up the domestic defense from terror attack as the primary mission. The Department said in the report, `` America should prepare for the uncertainty of the future and surprise attack.`` and `` the U.S. territory should have a firm security.``

After the end of Cold War, the U.S. has focused on the overseas military force instead of state defense, based on the optimism that the U.S. territory is not under any threat.

The Department emphasized that the U.S should keep its current military forces, composed of 1.40 million people in active and 1.30 million in on reserve, including 10 army division, 10 air force division, and 12 marine division with 12 aircraft carriers.

The department also officially abolished the ` win win strategy` aiming at the total victory in every war in case that the wars break out simultaneously in Gulf, the Korean peninsular, etc. Instead, the Department adopted the strategy that wins a decisive victory in one war and wins another war with alacrity. Pointing out that the East Asia coast areas from Bengal Bay to the East Sea of the Korean Peninsula have high possibility of military struggle, the Department emphasized that the U.S. should keep its current military force in Japan and China in preparation against the potential attack by China. It also said that other military bases in Asia and west Europe should be kept for emergency.

The Department suggested that it should increase the number of aircraft carriers and combat fleets with missiles in the West Pacific area.

Han Ki-Heung eligius@donga.com