Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The US Space Force on Wednesday launched a unit at Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo, with Chinese expert saying the launch of US Space Forces Japan is part of US' effort to implement its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy," specially to serve its overall military interests. 

US Space Forces Japan will operate with a staff of about 10 and be subordinate to US Forces Japan, which is set to be reconstituted into a joint force headquarters next year. Defense Minister Gen Nakatani and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that this will also include cooperation on low-Earth orbit satellite constellations to deal with advanced missiles carrying hypersonic glide vehicles and "other threats," according to the Japan Times.

The US' strengthened collusion with Japan in the field of space is part of its effort to implement its so-called "Indo-Pacific strategy," and serves its overall military interests, Lü Chao, an expert on the East Asian studies at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Japan in particular, is depicted by Washington as being on the forefront of America's own growing confrontation with China. In reality, Japan is given little choice, Brian Berletic, a geopolitical analyst and a former solider of US Marine, told the Global Times recently.

NASA has encountered a lot of difficulties, but the US will not allow itself to succumb to asking for China's help. Therefore, the US decided to ramp up efforts with its ally Japan to secure financial and technological cooperation, and this is also their purpose of establishing the US Space Forces Japan, Lü said.

Beyond America's continued military presence in Japan undermining relations with nearby China, it threatens the peace and stability of the entire Asia-Pacific region, said Berletic, adding that this menace is enhanced by the expanding role of the US Space Force and its growing network of "components" which spring up across the Asia-Pacific region.

"Military collusion in the field of space is unacceptable to the principle of making space a peaceful endeavor for mankind, and is to be condemned by all countries concerned," Lü said.