TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Japan and the US are considering placing a US military coordination unit in central Tokyo amid escalating regional tensions.

The move would facilitate better joint operations planning between the two countries, Japan Times reported. One possible location for the unit is the US Army’s Akasaka Press Center in Roppongi district. The 27,000-square-meter office includes a heliport and officer housing and is home to the Stars and Stripes military newspaper.

The move comes as the US and Japan are concerned about a possible Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The two nations have already drafted a contingency plan and separately made preparations for such a conflict. 

The US Marine Littoral Regiment, which operates High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, is setting up temporary bases along Japan's southwestern Nansei island chain. This includes Kagoshima and Okinawa prefectures.

Meanwhile, Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force has stationed 570 troops at a new base on Ishigaki Island in Okinawa Prefecture. Surface-to-air missiles and mobile Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles are deployed there to prevent Chinese military ships and aircraft from intruding Japan’s maritime borders and airspace.

Japanese lawmakers and leaders, including late-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo and current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru have stated that a “Taiwan emergency is a Japanese emergency” and stressed the importance of upholding peace in the region. Before taking office, Shigeru visited Taiwan in August and met with Lai Ching-te (賴清德) for talks on regional security and strengthening bilateral ties.