U.S. Plans New Asia Missile Defenses
By ADAM ENTOUS And JULIAN E. BARNES
The U.S. is planning a major expansion of missile defenses in Asia, a move American officials say is designed to contain threats from North Korea, but one that could also be used to counter China's military.
Threats from North Korea and China's increased military presence in Asia are driving the U.S. to expand its military defense in the region. The WSJ's Deborah Kan speaks to reporter Jeremy Page. Photo: DefenseImagery.mil
The planned buildup is part of a defensive array that could cover large swaths of Asia, with a new radar in southern Japan and possibly another in Southeast Asia tied to missile-defense ships and land-based interceptors.
It is part of the Obama administration's new defense strategy to shift resources to an Asian-Pacific region critical to the U.S. economy after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The expansion comes at a time when the U.S. and its allies in the region voice growing alarm about a North Korean missile threat. They are also increasingly worried about China's aggressive stance in disputed waters such the South China Sea, where Asian rivals are vying for control of oil and mineral rights.
