PACIFIC OCEAN (December 10, 2010) - U.S. Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) ships steam in formation as part of a photo exercise on the final day of Keen Sword 2011. The exercise enhances the Japan-U.S. alliance which remains a key strategic relationship in the Northeast Asia Pacific region. Keen Sword caps the 50th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. alliance as an "alliance of equals." (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jacob D. Moore)
Doug Bandow, National Interest: Time to Let Japan Be a Regular Military Power
American officials have forgotten the purpose of alliances: defense, not welfare.
The Japanese people don’t much like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In fact, a majority of them want someone else as premier. Yet his coalition just retained its two-thirds majority in snap parliamentary elections. He should use his reinforced authority to end his nation’s defense dependence on America.
More than seventy years after World War II, that conflict still burdens Japan, limiting its role in the world. But an increasingly aggressive China and threatening North Korea caused Tokyo to adopt a more active foreign and defense policy. Nevertheless, the U.S.-imposed “peace constitution” still constrains Tokyo. Indeed, by its literal terms Article Nine forbids possession of a military.
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WNU Editor: The author of the above post is wrong in his assertion that the Japanese people do not like Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and that a majority want someone else. If that was the case he would never have won the election that was held just a few weeks ago, and certainly not by the two-thirds of the electorate that his coalition received. The author is however correct that the geopolitics, as well as Japan's ability to defend itself, has changed. What is needed right now in Japan is a debate on what should be their foreign policy and national security priorities, and how would they fund it .... as well as what should be the U.S. role in such an arrangement. This debate should also be done in the U.S. when it comes to the Far East. Unfortunately .... I doubt this is going to happen right now. The Japanese are addicted to the U.S. committing huge resources to the defense of their country, and the U.S. continues to have the mindset that they must play that role of global policeman.AS long as that thinking prevails .... nothing is going to change.
1 comment:
Absolutely. Japan needs to be able to defend itself. Especially after Obama's pivot to Asia not only failed, but backfired and brought us the Chinese answer: a nuclear armed, Chinese protected buffer state that is used to harass the entire APAC, ie North Korea. China will grab Taiwan and China will want revenge for the sino-jap wars and bloodshed. Many of my Chinese friends despise Japan for its perceived war crimes and brutality (at a time that denied China the last century, hence they are so eager that this century belongs to them. ..and they do want some payback). To not constantly be bullied by an already aggressive and territorial China, Japan needs to heavily invest into its army and services now. If they don't start now, in 5-10 years China will not just bully Vietnam or the now appeased Philippines (likely because of the drug connection between Duterte's son and the Chinese mafia). Japan will be next. And if you look at the current situation in the US - and the apparent retreat from the world militarily, and the lack of lust to fight other people's wars, understandably so, Japan needs to wake up and wake up fast. My advice would also be to deepen relations with the US, Eu/Nato. Because we in the West love Japan, their tech, work ethics and culture (traditional and pop culture). Something the Chinese can't copy :P so, go Japan, be a strong nation again militarily and team up with the "west"/the free world :)
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