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Japan to expand Djibouti military base to counter Chinese influence

26 Comments
By Nobuhiro Kubo

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26 Comments
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Oh hey look, Japan now not only has overseas military bases but is expanding them in a direct attempt to sabre rattle with China.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

The way I see it, if Abe and his cronies truly have the interest of the Japanese people at heart, he would focus his efforts on reviving the Japanese economy and deal with the scores of domestic issues facing Japan.

With the US presence in Japan still, I don't expect China or North Korea to make any drastic military move. Let the big boys duke it out elsewhere. Focus on improving the lives of your own people.

Even, as I suspect, his ultimate goal is the reliving of past Japanese glory, you cannot do that on the back of a faltering economy. A strong economy is the backbone of military might. The US knew it, China recognizes that as well. Abe just doesn't get it.

9 ( +11 / -2 )

This kind of reminds of how Britain and France jockeyed for power and influence in Africa in the 19th century. Plus ca change, eh.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Here's an idea. Why don't they both team up, appeal to their good buddies in the Gulf region for a ceasefire in Yemen, then go in and help the seriously malnourished and injured?

Or do they prefer looking backwards and boring, useless point scoring?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Tokyo will justify the expansion of personnel and aircraft in the Horn of Africa by pointing to a need to have aircraft there to evacuate Japanese citizens from nearby trouble spots or areas hit by natural disasters, the sources said

That doesn't make any sense (like most Japanese government arguments). I imagine there are very few Japanese citizens in Africa compared with Europe and the Americas. Why don't the Japanese set up facilities to evacuate citizens from those places first? If the answer is: "we will rely on our allies", the same is true for Africa. A permanent base is not needed when aircraft can reach anywhere in the world within 24 hours.

Africa doesn't have many earthquakes, typhoons or volcanoes, so the "natural disaster" excuse doesn't make any sense either.

Japanese military bases outside of Japan are unconstitutional and illegal.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I think China is not the biggest threat to Japan after Putin's actions this week.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

“We hope Japan can draw lessons from history, conform with the times, and truly follow the path of peaceful development,” Geng told a daily news briefing in Beijing."

Only the Chinese government is capable of spinning this as a sinister plot of Japan to invade Africa.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

A big difference here. China CAN afford to splash money around.

Yes, why can't Japan do these things without having to use China as a reason? It makes them look as if they're always trying to get one up on China and have no real interest in helping out other countries. Why now? Japan became a developed country decades ago.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Can't imagine how popular the news will be to those additional service personnel who might be stationed there!

3 ( +3 / -0 )

as a counterweight to what it sees as growing Chinese influence in the region

OR

a need to have aircraft there to evacuate Japanese citizens from nearby trouble spots or areas hit by natural disasters

So which is it?

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Japan no longer has visions about the future, about anything, it's just playing catch up now.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Abe is insane.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Japan no longer has visions about the future, about anything, it's just playing catch up now.

It is hard for Japan to have a sound vision for the future when it doesn't have an independent foreign policy.

Just look at Japan when its leader visit Mongolia, Russia, SE Asian countries, African countries, etc, it is always to "counter Chinese influence."

Just last week, China finished Africa's first modern international electrical railway from Ethiopia to Djibouti which will benefits both of those countries for future developments. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37562177

Japan need to stop look at China's and Its relationship with other countries as a zero-sum game. Japan and China can have good relationship and influences with other countries at the same time. There is no country, including China, can stop Japan have a good relationship with Djibouti. Djibouti is a poor and under-developed countries and it can use all the help it can get for its infrastructure and civil developments. If Japan really wants/needs to "counter Chinese influence" then maybe it can help Djibouti develop too.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Once again, reactive policies instead of a proactive ones. You'll always end up being in second place. The least Japan could do is pretend it's for "cooperation with Africa" and etc instead of "China", that just makes them look so weak.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Just great, why bother even having a constitution?

“The German Weimar Constitution changed, without being noticed, to the Nazi German constitution. Why don’t we learn from their tactics?”

http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/taro-aso-on-japanese-constitutional-reform-learn-from-the-nazis/

Why bother with a constitution and why bother with parliamentary democracy either? Just do what you want ( or whatever Washington will allow you to do ).

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Why is this site so touchy about Aso Taro's well publicized comments regarding the you-know-whos change of the Weimar Constitution in you-know-where and his lauding of their tactics? His comments are on the record. As Rainyday says, "Why even bother having a constitution".

Moderator: Please post something pertinent to the story.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Next: battles over Africa's resources - a great way to draw attention away from the failures of Abenomics (or, "bakanomics").

1 ( +5 / -4 )

China could not find anything negative about Japan in Africa, so all they can do is vaguely mention events of WWII.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

@rainyday Oh hey look, Japan now not only has overseas military bases but is expanding them in a direct attempt to sabre rattle with China. Just great, why bother even having a constitution? YES SIR! They haven't figured it out that every-time they stick their nose in such ways, a natural disaster comes their way, need to be cleaning their own house-

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Japan to expand Djibouti military base to counter Chinese influence

This article is as ridiculous as it could be.

Japan and China are ALLIES in the operation in Djibouti against pirates off Somalian coast based on UN Security Council Resolution 1816. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Security_Council_Resolution_1816

From there, the SDF have operated maritime patrol aircraft as part of an international force, including China, that hunts pirates in the seas of the Gulf of Aden and off the coast of Somalia.

Is the meaning of the sentence in the article clear? There is an international effort to eradicate pirates off the coast of Somalia. China, Japan, US and France are all there for the international effort. Japan will leave Djibouti as soon as the UN mandate is accomplished..

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I agree; the article is a mishmash! Why should Japan be countering Chinna? Japan isn't at war is it, so why the exclamatory rhetoric?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The words "Japan" and "military" in the same sentence is still a cause of rattlement, but I understand the sentiment of Japan, although a much more resounding and positiveresult would come from consolidating their (Japan's) presence in nations with less Chinese influence.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What a waste of money that could be used for so much more at home. $30B of tax payers money. Just imagine if they put a public vote to this....

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Nhan Thai at Oct. 14, 2016 - 07:36PM JST To destroy the military of china , Japan will easily do quickly eventually in the near future , china is just actually a copying chicken , this type of chicken barks out so loud , but it does not dare to go to war honorly like Japan

Ah yes, the bitter Vietnamese. Never one to miss the chance to do some China bashing.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

To destroy the military of china , Japan will easily do quickly eventually in the near future , china is just actually a copying chicken , this type of chicken barks out so loud , but it does not dare to go to war honorly like Japan

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Only the Chinese government is capable of spinning this as a sinister plot of Japan to invade Africa.

Wrong. It is interpreted as Japan's now found military ambition overall. You'll see the same statement from China with regards to Japan's meddling in affairs of the South China Sea.

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

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