U.S. officials warn that American bases in South Korea, Japan, and Guam are highly vulnerable to missile and drone attacks by China and North Korea, calling for reinforced defenses and distributed logistics.

Under secretary of defense for policy Elbridge Colby says the U.S. is not disengaging from Asia, but will deepen engagement with allies to deter adversaries and preserve a favorable regional balance of power.

The strategy calls for stronger distributed theater logistics, pre-positioned equipment, and combat-capable forces coordinated with allies, including joint infrastructure investments in the Philippines under Enhanced Defense Cooperation and rotational patrols with the Philippine Coast Guard.

Recommendations include hardening measures such as underground facilities, anti-drone nets, fencing, multilayer barriers, and dispersed naval and air bases, paired with faster funding for modernization and maintenance.

Colby urges allies to increase defense spending and assume greater responsibility for their security, warning against relying on the United States through hollow middle-power or purely paper-based arrangements.

America’s defense strategy prioritizes Asia and pursues deterrence by denial along the First Island Chain, encompassing Japan, Taiwan, the Philippines, and parts of Southeast Asia.

Deterrence depends on deployed military power and political will to use it, with partnerships modernizing and integrating with U.S. forces rather than replacing them.

A three-layer active defense for bases is proposed: expand Patriot defenses, bolster indirect-fire protection for cruise missiles, and deploy short-range systems like Coyote and Merops to counter one-way drones, plus directed-energy weapons, electronic warfare, and decoys.

Analyst warns that Pacific bases remain underprotected against missiles and drones and should adopt lessons from Ukraine-Russia and Iran attacks to improve defenses.