Trilateral alliance counterproductive

Regional multilateral mechanism would provide collective security and guarantee common development and prosperity

The United States, the Republic of Korea and Japan have just completed live-fire military exercises in and near the ROK. The US-ROK bilateral ground-based military exercises have been an annual event for years. The trilateral naval drill is also not new, as Japan has been an observer since 2008. However, this time Japan participated as a full partner.

The purpose of these exercises is supposed to be "defensive" and for "humanitarian" purposes, yet they were plainly a display of military might that is intended to act as a deterrent.