Destroyer takes antivirus precautions as it leaves for Mideast mission

Being proactive!!! Great to see!!! Let’s make this a line in the sand and move forward proactively.

As Japan relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports, stability in the region is of utmost concern to the country.

Why doesn't Japan buy all its oil from America? Sure would help with trade deficits.

The reason why I adamantly disapprove Japan having an army because of something like this. Getting dragged into America's endless wars, and Japan is an obedient vassal like the UK. Each war costs taxpayers greatly for all allies of the US involved in the war.

Germany managed to get its military back because the clever, German politicians played hard ball with the US about the Soviet threat (of course, Germans are white and had a lot of politico-economic influence in the US). Importantly, Germans secured the military that never gets dragged into America's wars. Germany never participated in Iraq War and Afghan War. A full military that is completely independent from external forces.

It is a fairy tale for Japan to ever secure a military with an independent status. The US will abuse the Japanese taxpayers to participate the endless wars. Japan will be bled dry, and the LDP cronies will keep their Nihonjiron dream as an American lapdog. Yes, Abe will get his military back very soon unless his Japan only buys American weapons and joins America in every war.

Xeno man, what arrant rubbish, neither the UK nor Japan are vassals of the USA, both are allies. The UK has its own geopolitical interests to protect, which to a very large extent coincide with the USA’s, rule of law, freedom of trade, freedom of navigation, democratic rule etc. Japan and Germany both sought to distance them selves from the militaristic past and so imposed or had imposed constraints on their military. Germany is and always was primarily a land power with little real need for an expeditionary capacity so simply does not have the equipment or infrastructure to send forces over seas. Japan not only has more limited, regional interests but is also constrained by the widely supported constitutional limitations on its military.

The fact that as allies of the USA (not any here today gone tomorrow politician/administration) merely means we support each other not obey blindly.

Xeno ManToday  05:26 pm JST

The reason why I adamantly disapprove Japan having an army because of something like this. Getting dragged into America's endless wars, and Japan is an obedient vassal like the UK. Each war costs taxpayers greatly for all allies of the US involved in the war.

Japan already has an army, navy and air force. It just isn't called that.

Paragraph 1 of Article 9, which Ave has declared he does not want changed, prohibits getting involved in US wars in the same manner that other US Allies have.

Importantly, Germans secured the military that never gets dragged into America's wars. Germany never participated in Iraq War and Afghan War. A full military that is completely independent from external forces.

"The German government wants to extend six military missions, including in Iraq, Afghanistan and Mali."

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-to-expand-global-military-missions/a-42858081

The Germans have already been involved in Iraq and Afghanstan. Unlike the JSDF, German troops have fired upon and killed enemy forces. Japanese troops have never killed anyone since created in 1951.

TomToday  05:15 pm JST

As Japan relies on the Middle East for about 90 percent of its crude oil imports, stability in the region is of utmost concern to the country.

Why doesn't Japan buy all its oil from America? Sure would help with trade deficits.

Because the US does not sell anywhere as much as the OPEC nations which produce and sell 80% of the world's oil. Additonally US exports are constrained by the Strategic Oil Reserve requirement. Japan already buys all it's military hardware from the U.S.

Japan and her Military are no "vassal state" of the USA, as some are stating. Japan has her own independent foreign policy, and is sending this Japanese Navy Destroyer to protect Japanese lives and trade in the middle East. Kirisame will absolutely NOT fire upon, or kill any foreign citizen without provocation.

Mess with the Japanese Navy however, and we all know how that will end up for the aggressor.

Why doesn't Japan buy all its oil from America? Sure would help with trade deficits.

The USA only has low grade shale oil that is not suitable for Japans industry and power stations. Only the Middle East can supply oil suitable for Japans needs, hence the need for Japanese Military to protect this supply.

Shale oil can be used for all oil needs. It is not low grade.

Oil is cheap right now. Japan should be stockpiling as much oil as it can get its hands on.

I'm wondering about the Imperial flag the Navy is using. I didn't realize Japan was still using it.

KumagaijinToday  08:56 pm JST

I'm wondering about the Imperial flag the Navy is using. I didn't realize Japan was still using it.

It's not an "Imperial Flag" it's callled a Naval Ensign. And it was used by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1870 to 1945 then by the JMSDF from 1954 to date.

Fighto!Today 07:16 pm JST

Japan and her Military are no "vassal state" of the USA, as some are stating. Japan has her own independent foreign policy

As comical as ever. Yukio Hatayama got fired by Hilary Clinton because he wanted an independent foreign policy and made overtures to Korea and China.

Jack Straw, UK foreign secretary, was fired by Bush/Rumsfeld in 2006 for being soft on carpet bombing the Middle East.

The UK and Japan are client states of the US.

Good for them, ganbare!

Little wee boat they have there, looks like it is the tender of the larger boat ship or craft., ..............but then i guess they wont be doing much anyway .

Xeno Man Today 05:26 pm JST

Germany managed to get its military back because the clever, German politicians played hard ball with the US about the Soviet threat

That's completely untrue.

Germany was able to recover its army thanks to the state pact, agreed upon by the SPD and the CDU. And both political parties supported the YES, in a national referendum.

In Japan that's totally impossible. This would require an affirmative pact LDP - PDCJ - Kōmeitō. And those three political parties would have to defend the YES, in a national referendum. And I'm telling you that's not gonna happen. Especially not with the current leaders of the PDCJ.

You are looking only at the LDP and the US as the main culprits in Japan's failure to regain its army. When in fact he should only be looking for them within Japanese domestic politics. And more specifically in the field of opposition. Opponents in modifying Article 9.

The example of Germany cannot be applied in Japan.

Nice going Japan. Long, long overdue.

"Little wee boat"

"http://www.seaforces.org/marint/Japan-Maritime-Self-Defense-Force/Destroyer/Murasame-class_DAT/DD-104-JDS-Kirisame.htm"

Similar to Bjorn's kayak.

Will those Abe masks protect the intrepid sailors?

PLEASE TAKE CARE ! THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE J.M.S.D.F. GOOD LUCK!!