Donald Trump’s demands that American allies in the Asia-Pacific region increase their defence spending have reignited doubts about how much these countries can depend on the United States to deter threats from China and North Korea.

The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, released in December, urged allies such as Japan and South Korea to enhance their collective defence capabilities to better deter aggression. It emphasized the importance of protecting the "first island chain," a strategic series of islands stretching from Japan to the Philippines and Borneo, which serves as a barrier between mainland China and the Pacific Ocean.

This island chain holds heightened significance due to Taiwan’s location at its center, an island Beijing considers part of China and has not ruled out using force to control.

Concerns about Washington’s commitment have prompted these allies to focus more on developing their own defence industries. However, analysts warn that this trend could eventually weaken American dominance in the global arms trade.

Sources