US military cuts: are ‘budget hawks’ getting upper hand over ‘China hawks’?

With US troops in Japan on ‘chopping block’ analysts say those in South Korea might face cuts too, and it may weaken deterrence against China

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A proposal to stop expanding US Forces Japan aligns with Donald Trump’s push for allies to spend more on their defence. Photo: Reuters

Published: 6:00pm, 21 Mar 2025

Washington’s possible cuts to US troops stationed in Japan – and potentially in South Korea – suggest a higher priority on reducing spending than competing with China, and it could weaken collective deterrence against Beijing, analysts say.

The Pentagon is considering making significant cuts to the US military as the Donald Trump administration seeks to shrink the federal government, CNN reported on Wednesday, citing a briefing document it obtained.

Key proposals include consolidating combatant commands and axing a directorate that oversees the joint force’s development, training and education.

According to CNN, the document also included an option to stop the expansion of US Forces Japan (USFJ), which reportedly could save about US$1.1 billion on personnel costs and command and control upgrades.

But the document also said halting the USFJ’s growth could create “political risk” for the US in Japan and reduce the scope of its command and control in the Pacific.

More than 50,000 US military personnel are stationed in Japan at present. Photo: Kyodo

The Joe Biden administration last year sought to modernise its military forces in Japan to deepen cooperation with Tokyo amid growing pressure from China. In July, Washington announced plans to upgrade and expand the USFJ into a joint force headquarters reporting to the commander of the Indo-Pacific Command, giving the US commander in Japan more autonomy.