Vinayak Barot
New Delhi: The Communist government in China could be more aggressive towards Taiwan and Japan, and other countries in the region as the United States Air Force reportedly intends to withdraw its entire fleet of F-15 fighter jets based in Okinawa, Japan, by the end of next year. Analysts fear the move could encourage China to boost its presence in the region further.
In the last few months, disputes between China and the US have surged after US speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit and the Beijing government’s clashes with the island nation.
Former Vice Commander of Pacific Air Forces and a retired F-15 pilot told the media, “The message to China is that the US is not serious about reversing the decline in its military forces. This will encourage the Chinese to take more dramatic actions,”
According to the media report, The sole USAF F-15C/D Eagle units outside the United States are located at Kadena Air Base on the Japanese island of Okinawa. The current permanent units will be replaced by rotational fighter detachments.
The US Air Force’s Eagles first landed at Kadena in September 1979, and the model has been continuously stationed there. According to six people familiar with the situation, the push aims to retire two squadrons of aging F-15 Eagles as part of a larger “modernization program.”
The decision could also be linked to proposals to reduce planned acquisitions of F-15EX Eagle II fighter jets from at least 144 to roughly 80. Even so, Gen Kenneth Wilsbach, commander of the Pacific Air Forces, had already designated Kadena as his top choice for the F-15EX recipient.
The two squadrons of F-15C/Ds that are currently flown out of the base, according to Wilsbach, might be replaced with the Eagle II.
Meanwhile, some Pentagon and Japanese government officials have expressed concern over the latest decision because the air force does not plan to replace them with a permanent presence anytime soon.