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Japan considers joint air patrols with U.S. in South China Sea

31 Comments
By Nobuhiro Kubo, Tim Kelly and David Brunnstrom

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31 Comments
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There is no situation in Asia that could not be handled with communication.

It's so easy to play armchair games and avoid reality.

So Japan and the US do?

In the case of the Senkaku Islands yes Japan does, and the US is backing up it's ally here. Must burn you to bits that the US is going to be using assets based in Okinawa to "defend" Japan. Takes away your argument.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Very, very bad idea for two reasons.

First, Japan is not a player in the region. It has no territorial claims there nor alliances with the countries that do. This would not "likely antagonize" China - it certainly would, and, unusually, for good reason. And all for nothing: Japanese air patrols in the South China Sea would have zero influence on what is happening there.

Second, if Japan wants to "normalize" itself and begin using its military like many other countries, that is its right. However, it should not do so until its constitution is modified to legalize it. Japanese claims that what they learned from the war is "war is bad" are cringe worthy, akin to boasting of learning "fire is hot." What they SHOULD have learned is not to countenance flouting the law. Let the public decide whether to amend Article 9, but do not try to have it both ways: that is a slippery slope.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

“We have to show China that it doesn’t own the sea,” said the Japanese source.

So Japan and the US do?

It's time to grow up and stop playing these childish games.

There is no situation in Asia that could not be handled with communication.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

'It's time to grow up and stop playing these childish games."

Which Asian country is most intent on expanding their territory and playing childish games?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

I strongly support this move. Island issues should be handled in ICJ. China has show it's arrogance side thinking it can bullied the weak. This will certainly benefit the SEA. I strongly support this. An alliance between Japan-USA-SEA will be great.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Indian ocean is owned by India.

Really then who "owns" Diego Garcia? Or the Pacific, or Atlantic oceans for that matter?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

More money that could be used to improve people's lives here flushed down the toilet. Thank you Shinzo-kun.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Joint patrols in the region may sound like a great idea, but the end result will be heightened tensions and not reduced ones. The main catalyst for this entire crisis was ignoring the situation while holding out for a multilateral solution. China was unwilling to play that game and doubling down on the multilateral approach by introducing Japan into the situation is unlikely to calm things at all.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Exactly who is paying for this military buildup?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Oh, my, God. " There is no situation in Asia that could not be handled with communication. "

Neville Chamberlain had a fine time communicating with Hilter, now didn't he?

The USG in the first days of Pres. GW Bush's first Administration "spoke" to the PRC when they intercepted a US EP-3 intel jet forcing its crew to be held on Hainan Island several weeks, to test the hand of the son of "an old China hand" and former Pres. GHW Bush.

The Communists in control of the CCP/PRC/PLA are not "our" friends, they are cruel tyrants and thugs, who should be yielded no ground to grow and menace new generations, no sir. Know your enemy. Talk? Sure. Walk into the dark night with your best friends with a big stick to keep the wolves at bay, to keep them from eating your kids and your friends who are at risk? Absolutely! Joint patrols are long overdue. As overdue, as plural elections on mainland China.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Another stupid conflict of egoism, but I guess that's how the world works, isn't it?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

SuperLib,

I'm no China fan, but I don't swallow the paranoia either.

Please tell me where China is expanding and pushing others out.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Article 9 hasn't been repealed. So, Japanese Govt will have to ask Japanese voters. Special election. But before that. yhey have to clarify which country is attacking Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Toshiko-san,

You ask which country is attacking Japan.

It's a good question. I wonder why any country would attack Japan.

For the natural resources? Oil? Gold? Precious stones? Uranium? Vast unpopulated areas to expand into?

What would be the point?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

@Jay Que "The Communists in control CCP/PRC/PLA" are not "our" friends, they are cruel tyrants and thugs"

And Americans, of course, are "our best friends". Good, friendly nation that used to exterminate Natives, bombed and attacked dozen of countries in various parts of the world under false reasons. Tell me, please, where and when evil commies used atomic bombs against innocent civilians?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

It seems that China would never back off even if Japan did air patrol with US and would surely make rather more tensions there. Best way is all countries would better take economic sanctions to China, not by military forces that makes more critical tensions.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

China claims about 90% of the 3.5 million-square-kilometer South China Sea.

Damn I wish those aliens would just attack us already. These territorial pissings, tit-for-tat, divide-n-conqure games are getting so old.

"Just because you're paranoid, don't mean they're not after you"

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Please tell me where China is expanding and pushing others out.

You have just proven to me that you, for some reason or another, choose to keep your blinders on and stay ignorant about the world around you. Every hear about Nepal? Ever read about the island they built in the Spratly's that now has a 3km runway and will be used as a military base? Thank you for reinforcing the fact that you only share or spread news that others have fed you.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Just do it!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Yubaru,

Please try to see beyond your fixed ideas.

China's interest in Tibet is not Control and Power. Tibet is RICH in natural resources. It is also the largest clean water source in Asia. Something China desperately needs as its rivers are rapidly being polluted with industrial waste.

This article doesn't say much good about China, but it will put you right on the natural resources angle: http://freetibet.org/about/tibets-environment

Tibet is also rich in other resources including lead, zinc, molybdenum, asbestos, uranium, chromium, lithium and much more. Tibet is China's only source of chromium and most of its accessible lithium is in Tibet.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The joint patrols and other collaborations are the right direction for Japan to confront China's aggressiveness. But don't trust Obama because all he promised to others went down the sink. Look what happens in the ME. Japan will have a much more credible defense partner only after Obama is gone.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Eye, the U.S. president has very little effect on these things, the U.S. congress however; does. And I hope you are not hinting towards the need for aggressive politics or actions, they will not work on China. The situation between China and Japan is extremely precarious.. I just hope it can come to a halt and normalize before violence can occur. A peaceful Southeast Asia is a peaceful world.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

China's going to keep expanding and pushing others out unless someone pushes back. Don't wait for that to be too late.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

superpowers need to counterbalance

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The South China Sea is a neck of Japan's trade route and it starts feeling the rope tighten to its neck more tightly from now.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

And china might step up their naval presence in east sea or the sea of japan in tit for tat.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It's a good question. I wonder why any country would attack Japan.For the natural resources? Oil? Gold? Precious stones? Uranium? Vast unpopulated areas to expand into?What would be the point?

Naive to think that expansion is just about natural resources, look at Tibet. It's about control and power, which to China is more important it seems.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

But before that. yhey have to clarify which country is attacking Japan.

That's easy, the same countries that attacked early last century.... oh, hang on...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

“We have to show China that it doesn’t own the sea,” said the Japanese source."

When I was in primary school, I thought South China sea was owned by China because the name is not South Japan Sea. Indian ocean is owned by India.

Japan should follow Korea foot steps for changing the name from South China Sea as South Japan Sea. The name is confusing.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

After these joint air patrols, then can the U.S. military get out of Okinawa? lol

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

“We have to show China that it doesn’t own the sea,” said the Japanese source.

Well then quit considering joint air patrols and actually do them. Tough words but no spine, typical isn't it?

-7 ( +6 / -13 )

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