U.S., Japan to hold joint military drill amid island row with China

OssanAmerica, the reality is China has patro the surounding areas and has not stopped even with japan's complaint. Take my words, China will not stop doing this and Chinese fishing boats will fish around that island until japan back down. You should back to the reality.

@ flowers

"Other countries you mentioned also have very good relationships with China"

at least not VIETNAM, THE PHILLIPINES, AND INDIA.

"China has become a responsible citizen of the world. "

for examples?

"Since it’s opened its border China has never invaded another country for the sake of its own ideology, toppled a government, or interfered with other countries’ internal affairs. "

KHMER ROUGE any idea?

"China is still growing and changing for the better so human rights are just a part of the growing pains. Every country suffered through that even in the US, remember black slaves."

it's true that every countries have experienced that; HOWEVER; not a single country EXPORT that. google CHINESE OWNED COMPANIES OPERATIONS IN AFRICA. Oops...i forgot google isn't searchable in china.

Since it’s opened its border China has never invaded another country for the sake of its own ideology, toppled a government, or interfered with other countries’ internal affairs

How do you explain the war with Vietnam or India then?

China has stepped up to be a responsible citizen of the world in a very short time, admitting its wrongs before, and helping other poor countries to improve their living conditions, to say just a few.

If that's the case, then why do the people of South East Asia object to China's presence so much?

"masters of manipulation and deception" who had irresponsibly allowed schools and housing to be built to the perimeter of Futenma.

Bertie, it might help if you understood that part in his quote was regarding politicians.

Helping poorer countries even if they are dictatorships runing genocide as long as China can get the raw material cotracts.

The US hates competition in these areas.

OssanAmericaNov. 01, 2012 - 02:51AM JST But whateer China say must ge thr truth right?

Yes, I think it’s the truth that China is watching what is going on and Japan, in fact, creates the tensions in this case. Other countries you mentioned also have very good relationships with China. And, certainly China has become a responsible citizen of the world. Since it’s opened its border China has never invaded another country for the sake of its own ideology, toppled a government, or interfered with other countries’ internal affairs. China is still growing and changing for the better so human rights are just a part of the growing pains. Every country suffered through that even in the US, remember black slaves.

flowersNov. 01, 2012 - 01:04AM JST don’t you think those words are true that they are watching what is going on and that Japan is manufacturing >tensions in the region.

According to the U.S., Japan, Australia, India, Vietnam. Singapore, Malaysia, and Philipines, China is manfacturing tension in the region. But whateer China say must ge thr truth right?

Don’t see China as an enemy, we are not in the stone age any more. China has stepped up to be a responsible >citiizen of the world in a very short time, admitting its wrongs before, and helping other poor countries to improve >their living conditions, to say just a few.

LOL. A reponsible citizen of the world? Only oif North Korea, Iran Syria, Sudan etc made up the whole world. Helping poorer countries even if they are dictatorships runing genocide as long as China can get the raw material cotracts. China's third world selling slogan; "W don't care about human rights in China why should we care about yours?"

Common, guys. Blame everything on China, any slight move by China you guys just spit and yell. Please be open-minded and be reasonable. What do you expect China side to say when asked by the reporters, don’t you think those words are true that they are watching what is going on and that Japan is manufacturing tensions in the region. Don’t see China as an enemy, we are not in the stone age any more. China has stepped up to be a responsible citizen of the world in a very short time, admitting its wrongs before, and helping other poor countries to improve their living conditions, to say just a few.

Yubaru,

Maher for the most part was talking about Okinawan politicians and after as long as I have been living here there is more truth to what he said than not.

He was not talking about Okinawan politicians:

Maher described Okinawans as lazy (too lazy even to grow goya, the Okinawan staple bitter melon), immoral (there were too many out-of-wedlock children and they drank too much strong liquor), and as "masters of manipulation and deception" who had irresponsibly allowed schools and housing to be built to the perimeter of Futenma.

http://www.japanfocus.org/-Gavan-McCormack/3532

davidakeOct. 31, 2012 - 06:12PM JST japan has totally lost the island which what ever you call it because China will continue and forever to patrol around >the island.

It;s their fuel. Cruising round the islands may be harassment and abnnoyance, but at the end, that's all it is.

Chinese boats have started to chase out the japanese ships around that area and noe the island and surround >areas are under Chinese control.

Total nonsense. Please get back to reality.

cleoOct. 31, 2012 - 01:14PM JST "When is it ever being a coward to face those who do wrong to you?" The peasants in the villages in Vietnam did nothing wrong to America. The US used the imaginary Gulf of Tonkin >incident to start a war against North Vietnam. No Vietnamese military vessel, soldier or weapon ever went >anywhere near America.

Many of those villages harbored VC. Very different from the NVA. And I don't recall any Argentine military vessel, soldier or weapon ever going near the British Isles so let's not forget that phrease about casting the first stone. But to pull this back on-topic, Vietnam which has fought a war with China and are presently on the receiving end of China's territorial bullying, despite being a Socialist nation and having foughta war with the U.S., has allied itself with the U.S. against China.

Yes, well, former US State Department official Kevin Maher is supposed to have said that Okinawans were lazy and deceitful. Many on this board would like to continue to portray them as such to make their opposition seem opportunistic rather than sincere.

Maher for the most part was talking about Okinawan politicians and after as long as I have been living here there is more truth to what he said than not.

YubaruOct. 31, 2012 - 06:41PM JST

Yes, well, former US State Department official Kevin Maher is supposed to have said that Okinawans were lazy and deceitful. Many on this board would like to continue to portray them as such to make their opposition seem opportunistic rather than sincere.

Once China stops sending ships into the disputed waters for a week the former people will be back to demanding the US leave Futenma

Dude they have never stopped, just because YOU dont hear about it doesnt mean that life for the protesters has ended.

The US and Japan have continually had joint training exercises since the treaty was put into place. It's no biggie really.

japan has totally lost the island which what ever you call it because China will continue and forever to patrol around the island. Chinese boats have started to chase out the japanese ships around that area and noe the island and surround areas are under Chinese control. japan and US navy drilsl can not do anything to change the situation around the island. I am sorry to say this - japan has got what it do not want by formally buy the island. It is clear now that move by japanese to buy the island was a bad move. It has given China a reason to move in and control it forever unless japan is going to back to the start point - admit that there is a dispute on th island. It is painful for japan to do so but there is not other way to come out. It hurts but it is a reality. China does not act like japan which only can shout around but no action. China has acted and when China acts, you will feel pain. No body can help you, not god and not us of A. Millitary drill is a show business, notthing more and nothing less. Please do not treat it seriously. It is a knid of spirit drug which only makes you feel high for a little well. China is too strong for you take on even with usa's help both economically and millitarily. Dream is sweet but Reality hurts.

Why are we paying any attention to these chinese carp? it is like a dog barking and teh best cause of action is just ignor

robbing and shouting out loud for help is china 's habit . it is happily ruining up others ' rule , and crying out loud as others ruining back its ... lol , the most dishonor government is china

Bertie makes another great question!! Who is "we?"

CrisGerSan-san,

we do not threaten or use violence by choice as a means of establishing power.

I wonder who you are referring to when you say "we?"

The US would have to defend the islands against China for Japan according to the WWII treaty.

Will the US defend Japan against South Korea if that conflict grows? America sure does have a lot of irons in Asia's fire.

The US occupied and gave these islands back to Japan with Okinawa in 1972. The US recognizes the Senkaku islands as Japanese.

That is why China is not using force to take them like Korea is doing in Takeshima. The US would have to defend the islands against China for Japan according to the WWII treaty.

The Drill is a reasonable and normal procedure for allies. China can say whatever it wants but to keep making a fuss over a done deal..the sale of islands to a sovereign nation by their legal owner just shows how immature that China is as a modern nation.

In the modern world we work together and we do not threaten or use violence by choice as a means of establishing power. Sadly the Chinese people suffer the most from these theatrics for they get in an uproar egged on by their own leaders, and the rest of the world is going on with its own affairs. I am glad the drill is scheduled and I think that both the US and Japan are showing restraint and loyalty to their alliance.

This is general training that is conducted every year, twice a year, and there is no way to claim that it was specifically scheduled just for the purpose of antagonizing China.

Actually, the article states that it is a biennial event, meaning it happens once every two years. But that mistake hardly takes anything away from your knowledge of what the Chinese are notorious for and the flexibility of the military to allow for political and diplomatic tensions, a modest observation since the American military takes its orders from the civilian politicians.

All readers back on topic please. From here on, posts that do not focus on the U.S.-Japan drill will be removed.

The dead would probably disagree with your equivocation.

As would those still suffering from the effects of Agent Orange, depleted uranium, white phosphorus, land mines and unexploded cluster mini-bombs.

Cancelling the previously scheduled Island invasion drill in light of the political climate was well-advised. Holding it would have led to increased tensions, and not benefited either the US or Japan. Indeed, despite being previously scheduled, it would be all too easy for China to claim it was deliberate (and with China's history, that is precisely what everyone expected China to do). It was better to bite the bullet and just suck up the comments about America backing down, or being scared, or all that other nonsense. Even though it was sheer coincidence that this specific drill was scheduled for this time, in the interest on non-escalation, it was cancelled. No problem.

You can't cancel bi-annual training, though, and there is no political reason to do so. This is general training that is conducted every year, twice a year, and there is no way to claim that it was specifically scheduled just for the purpose of antagonizing China. In fact, cancelling it would be even more damaging to US/Japan than the risk of escalation. China is kind of well-known for looking for a fight and is notorious for not appreciating any attempts to de-escalate. In this case, it is better to just suck up the accusations of escalation and continue doing what they always do. After all, the military is willing to be flexible to allow for political tensions and diplomatic solutions, but they aren't going to re-arrange their entire schedule just because a country is throwing a hissy fit.

Mathew Simon,

What did the Koreans do to the Americans, or the Vietnamese, the Iraqis, the Afghans?

The same question could be asked about the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, at a time when Japan was totally finished in 1945.

The Chinese people must wonder why the US wants to isolate China from the rest of Asia, perhaps the root cause of some of China's actions. Or is China just another rogue nation that strikes fear in the hearts of America?

Just to add a few thoughts, wars make $$$, or at least the scare or thought of a a war, make $$$, why?? Why?? Oh the Chinese are coming!!! Quick Japan buy American missiles!! Quick XYZ country buy more planes, anti missile stuff oh more?? $$$ Yes, we have all gone through this before on so many occasions so, we need to keep our EYES wide open to make sure we are not lied to again, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION!!!??? Where were these weapons that in the case of Iraq, now instead of Iraq, so China is the boogey man of Asia??

@ Bertie, so you would prefer they use knives or something and sustain more causalities to make it a fair fight? Your argument is ridiculous and pointless. When is it ever being a coward to face those who do wrong to you?

Mathew Simon,

Cowardly? Or brave?

Agent Orange dumped on villages in Vietnam. The use of overwhelming force. US military in huge numbers wearing state of the art armour, night view equipment and high tech guns, drones and aircraft fighting against Afghan and Iraqi militia in normal clothes toting Russian made rifles, blowing themselves up as a last ditch effort to get rid of (from their point of view) the aggressor.

Aren't these acts of cowardice?

I'm not, of course, condoning terrorism as these are just as much acts of cowardice.

My grandfather used to talk of the change in British Army uniform from red (so that they would stand out) to camouflage (so that they could hide).

I understand his point of view.

Yes, America and Japan shoudl be free to hold any military exercise and so should Iran, Iraq, North Korea and anyother country for that matter. If the American's have weapons of mass disctruction, every country should have them.....

Make poor China angry??? Awwww boohoo.

China a message for you. The US and Japan are not scared of your primitive threats and bullying. We are free countries not held down by a communist empire. We can and will do as we please when and where we want.

If you get angry about this...maybe it is simply fear?

I don't think China fears a US-Japanese attack.

BTW Why the excessive reaction if China is only making "primitive threats and bullying"

Maybe fear...

China can threaten the whole world if it wants to but at the end of the day, their people will suffer the brunt of being a pariah just second only to North Korea,

Make poor China angry??? Awwww boohoo.

China a message for you. The US and Japan are not scared of your primitive threats and bullying. We are free countries not held down by a communist empire. We can and will do as we please when and where we want.

If you get angry about this...maybe it is simply fear?

the more picayune-inspired verbiage inspired from your otherwise sagacious wit

...inspired by your otherwise....

no need to worry right now but china will wait till the world is busy else where...

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/10/28/how-china-fights-lessons-from-the-1962-sino-indian-war.html

Smith

I don't understand the content of your post. It is unclear to me where you stand on the US Japan alliance.

It is not unclear where the US and Japan stand on our alliance, however. We are committed to ANPO -- and keeping US bases in Okinawa. I trust you recognize that.

It seems to be clear to China that the US and Japan stand together. That is a good thing. If China were to become confused about our (the US and Japan) commitment to the status quo, that would be a bad thing.

The kind of bad thing that leads to war.

That is the point I was making. That is why I wrote: "Good to know China knows the US Japan alliance is a strong as ever."

I am curious to know if you agree.

The US and Japan have held joint military exercises for years. Why should they now need to worry about having Chinese approval to do so? They will not be on Chinese soil and if at sea will be in Japaese or International waters. China should mind it's own business and stop being so arrogant.

These multinational military exercises are "internal matters" of Japan and the U.S., and China should stop meddling with the internal affairs of other countries. Isn't this what Beijing says all the time?

At Smith the anti japan, don't exaggerate China's importance. China needs the US more. Remove these two countries US & Japan from China's economic equation and see what remains.

@ Bertie is there some reason behind your constant anti-US statements? I would think that over the last ten years you would have adequate proof that the USA is anything but cowardly.

Peanut666-san,

Excellent move by Japan and the U.S. You must stand up to a cowardly bully to back him off.

I would have thought the US qualified more for the title of "Cowardly Bully."

Isn't this deja, deja, deja vu? What will be the excuse to cancel it? - the inability of the Ospreys to assist?

More likely it will be Caterpillar, Apple, General Motors, etc, who complain that such a move will be bad for business in China. You might even get a few Japanese companies joining them...not publicly, though.

37,400 military personnel from Japan

i have yet to see a single japanese soldier in my 6 years of living here

JTDanMan: "Good to know China knows the US Japan alliance is a strong as ever."

Ask the Okinawans holding signs like "No Base No Rape" about that, although they tend to stop whining when China rears its ugly head in their neighbourhood. Once China stops sending ships into the disputed waters for a week the former people will be back to demanding the US leave Futenma, not abide by the agreement Japan and the US reached on relocation in Okinawa, and that they leave Japan in general. Then another Chinese ship will enter the waters and they'll pipe down again, ad nauseum.

China knows the relationship between the US and Japan -- China also knows the US needs them just as much, though for economic reasons, and know the US is just making a show.

Isn't this deja, deja, deja vu? What will be the excuse to cancel it? - the inability of the Ospreys to assist?

Excellent move by Japan and the U.S. You must stand up to a cowardly bully to back him off. China might get angry, but I doubt if they will do anything.

If Japan and the U.S. didn't stand up to China, China will certainly attack the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei, etc. because China will think they are impervious to foreign forces. Especially vulnerable now is the Philippines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWJPoDj7onU

If they want to do a joint exercise as they have been for quite some time, let them. If China wants to whine about it, fine. They cancelled the 'take back the islands' drill, which I think is good, but otherwise let them do as they wish.

China seems to think that only it can hold military exercises in Asia. Everyone else is expected to suspend military operations and cower in fear.

waltery Oct. 31, 2012 - 09:30AM JST

WOW...a critical thinker who doesn't buy all of the official BS. Good for you. Keep it up.

To JTDanMan

Good to know China knows the US Japan alliance is a strong as ever.

Better tell to"Sayoko-jin" of okinawa

The US got slammed for cancelling the "win-back-the-Senkakus" exercise so they are making a big deal about a regularly scheduled drill to ease the minds of the Japanese public who has begun to doubt America's resolve. The Chinese, however, have seen these drills many times before. Meanwhile, the US has invited China to participate in 2014 RIMPAC, the largest biennial military exercise in the Pacific (Hawaii) for the US and its allies. This is a first for China which kind of makes it look like the US is hedging all bets in Asia. The political backroom conversations in Washington would certainly be of interest to the Japanese.

It's all a big scam to increase the spending on defence in the regiion in order to keep the economic growth of those and other arms, associated suppliers and countries moving. Hope it dosent backfire.

I am glad that Yang Yujun said last week China was “paying close attention to the relevant moves by the Japanese.” Very glad.

Good to know China knows the US Japan alliance is a strong as ever.

We are getting doubts about the validity of the security treaty.

"We?"

What, do you have a mouse in your pocket?

America's cool attitutude to Japan about the Senkaku island was very much disappointing to us.

That "cool attitude" is what's known as professional diplomacy; something Japan knows nothing about. I wouldn't worry about America not backing up Japan if it comes to that.

"Yang also accused Japan of “manufacturing tensions in the region”."

Says China while thery continue to manufacture tensions in the region.

If bullets started flying then you would see who has got your back and all of this whining about the security treaty would evaporate. Don't sweat it so much. This is just a minor issue China is blowing way out of proportion to flex their muscles.

Now that really is provocative and, in the current climate, totally unecessary.

America's cool attitutude to Japan about the Senkaku island was very much disappointing to us. Their stance looked even more friendly to China than to Japan. We are getting doubts about the validity of the security treaty.