SDF chief makes highest-level military visit to Myanmar since WWII

Does this mean that the Japanese government is sanctioning the human rights abuses tied to the Myanmar military? And is it part of efforts to increase arms related sales?

Japan is very generous to Burma it is good to see a developed nation like Japan giving a helping hand to a developing nation like Burma. Hope they turn out a better friend than China. Not to forget Burma also bordering with China, do not be surprise China will try to outdo Japan and to persuade Burma away from Japan. As they already have some degree of influence over the military regime.

Wakarimasen's issue is with the classification of Japan's previous military presence in Myanmar as a "visit". It is presumed that the last "visit" by Japan's "Top Officer" was to inspect the occupation troops Japan had sent there.

**Japan is very generous to Burma it is good to see a developed nation like Japan giving a helping hand to a developing nation like Burma. Hope they turn out a better friend than China. Not to forget Burma also bordering with China, do not be surprise China will try to outdo Japan and to persuade Burma away from Japan. As they already have some degree of influence over the military regime.**

You have to learn about Burmese history. Burma is neutral nation. China and Burma had fought 3 wars between them and Burma had won all 3 wars with China.

Burma was Japanese alliance in WWII but Japanese Government broke its promise for to give Burma independent. So Burma fought back Japanese Military after Burma realized Japan won't be given independent as it promised.

After WWII, Japan and Burma have very good relation. Burma has always maintained relation balance between left wing communist Governments and Westernized democratic Governments by non alliance policy. Burma knows Communist Chinese won’t be tolerating on hosting western military base in Burma. Also Communist Chinese Government respect quality of Burmese soldiers who are one of the best fighters in world.

Burmese peoples are sick of left wing socialism and they never forgot and forgave their experienced under Burmese Socialist Party rule.

They do not like Communist Chinese Government even though Burmese ethnics are Chinese ancestry and they came from today Yunnan State in China. They are more welcome to Japan and western investment than Communist Chinese investment in their country.

strange headline. not sure i would call the Japanese Army presence in Burma during WW2 a "visit".

@wakarimasen: JT headline clearly stated " AFTER WW II"

"Burma was Japanese alliance in WWII"

An "alliance".?! Yeah, right. Japan invaded Burma and set up a puppet government. After the Japanese were weakened by the fighting with the British military, the Burmese abandoned Japan very quickly.

Regrettably and definitely unavoidably references had to be made to WWII. However, that is not the issue to address here.

When one views the world as is today, in global reality rather than emotionally and cherry-picking specific issues, all Asian nations would agree that there is extreme tension and possible imminent confrontation with China by any of the Asian countries. While China is using a rather misused but familiar "co-sphere Asia" under Chinese authority, Myanmar was and is being threatened as with Thailand and Viet Nam by China. Therefore, military takeover of the Thai elections and now a coup.

Myanmar is one of the key countries that will give access to the Pacific and Indian oceans for the Chinese, and that is a major threat to ALL Asian nations including Japan. So Japanese military must not only ally itself with it, but also know and coordinate a united front.

What is your opinion?

Japan stirring the pot again. Japanese need to change prime minister before it leads Japan into deeper confrontation or even war. Development is in the eye of the beholder.

another idiot...wakarimasen....the article clearly says otherwise.....what a idiot? "Japan has had no military ties with Myanmar since 1945, when its three year occupation of the country came to an end with an Allied counter attack"

An "alliance".?! Yeah, right. Japan invaded Burma and set up a puppet government. After the Japanese were weakened by the fighting with the British military, the Burmese abandoned Japan very quickly.****

Jeff Lee, you’re wrong. Japan didn't invade Burma. Burmese nationalist General Aung San and his patriotic 30 comrades invited Japanese Military to fight against British Colony Government in Burma. Japanese Government had promised Gen Aung San and Japan will give Burma independent after freed Burma from British Colony.

Gen Aung San and Burmese peoples did not abandon Japan because of Japanese Military was weaker in end of WWII.

The reason was Japan had broken promised for given Burma independent and Burma was only given fake independent.

Japanese Government had discounted on integrity of Gen Aung San. Gen Aung San only wanted independent for his Burmese peoples but nothing else. He only loyal to his Burmese peoples.

Japanese Government had tried to bribe Gen Aung San with Emperor Award. Gen Aung San was invited to Tokyo and presented with the Order of the Rising Sun by Japanese Emperor Hirohito. However, it does not change his mind for independent for Burma. Also Gen Aung San saw Burmese peoples were enormously suffered by Japanese rule. So he contacts to British Military in India and asked weapons to fight Japanese Army. Burmese Army fights Japanese Army and later Japanese surrendered and WWII was end.

After WWII, British Colony Government was back in Burma again but this time Gen Aung San was fighting British by politic. In the end, British had agreed to give Burma Independent but group lead by former PM Winston Churchill in London didn't want to give Burma independent because Burma was very rich in natural resource Oil, Ruby, Jade, sapphire, Iron ore, Coal and other Minerals. Also Burma was rice bowl of Asia. British need natural resources from Burma. They had organized to assassinate Gen Aung San. Gen Aung San was assassinated in 19, July, 1947 age of 32 years old. Gen Aung San was selfless person and he only processed 3 pair’s clothes when he died but nothing else. Gen Aung San is father of Burmese Democracy Icon Daw Aung San Su Kyi. Gen Aung San is selfless person and Burmese peoples recognized he scarified for country.

He was assassinated during negotiation for Burma independent. Burma was given independent on 1948 but Burma had lost its territory Chittagong Hill Tracts, Assam and Manipur and later British awarded to its loyal servants India and East Pakistan.

Foreign Companies and foreigners should be caution about insulting Gen Aung San because they dearly love Gen Aung San.

Japan did not invade Burma by itself but Gen Aung San and his 30 Comrades invited. Japanese Army went to Burma for free Burma from British but Japan had broken its promised. However, Burmese peoples do not have any hatred toward Japanese peoples or Government. They are very friendly and they thanks to Japanese Government and peoples for their assistances to Burma. They hope Japanese Government will continue given assistance for country poor infrastructure.