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© KYODOJapan deploys missile units on southwest islands amid China's rise
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zones2surf
Awesome!!
I know this was previously announced, but glad it has been implemented.
Fully appropriate given China's aggressive posture in those waters!
AlexBecu
It's good to have the missiles there, but improving relations with China should be the main focus, especially if their willing to move on from the past and want better relations. Unlike our other neighbor, who want to seize Japanese assets, escalate tensions, ask for apology and than say it's not sincere enough or it never happened in the first place. Can you guess the country for 100 points?
thepersoniamnow
Better to have and not need than the other way. Besides, bullies only react to what they respect...a show of strength back.
Akie
Looks like Japan wants a war with China. OK, fine, good, excellent. Does Japan have $15 trillions in the bank to pay for China ? If not, then go to bed and sleep, as simple as that.
Akie
thepersoniamnow, who is bully ? Deploy misses against peaceful neighbors, and announce it to the world. Japan hasn't changed since the end of the war.
Akie
Another breach of promises and violation of Peace Treaty and friendship by Abe govt !! Why always put war before diplomacy ? violence before peace ? conflict before consultation ?
zones2surf
@Akie,
Sure, because China is such a peaceful neighbor, repeatedly sailing their ships into Japanese waters.
And using military force to claim islands, atolls and rocks in the South China Sea in opposition to Vietnam, Philippines, etc.
Oh, and "building islands" and then claiming the surrounding waters are no longer international waters.
China is a belligerent, expansionist bully, intent on dominating the region. The only thing they understand is force.
And they protest the actions by other countries which they themselves engage in.
The Middle Kingdom wants to rule Asia, it is as simple as that.
Akie
zones2surf, which international law tells you that is Japanese water ? China claimed Islands long before you see the world, 2000 years ago, in peaceful way, recognized by international laws and by neighbors.
GW
AlecBecu, Akie
You both seem to be ignoring an awful lot of what China has done & continues to do certainly NOT acting friendly in any way shape or form, just spewing lame propaganda is all China does
Akie
GW, not friendly ? Chinese come to Japan with visas issued by Japanese govt, pay hotels and restaurants, never asked for tourism fees. If you don't like it, then change that.
Sh1mon M4sada
No, looks like Japan wants to avoid a war with China to me. You upgrade your capability so your enemy know you can defend yourself and refrain from attacking you.
All things being equal, if you were the first to enhance capability, then you're starting an arms race. If you're responding to the arms race, you're being prudent, if you don't respond, you're inviting an invasion.
K3PO
Akie, why are you worried? "Northeast Asia is one nation, as simple as that."
Right?
Mizu no Oto
Anyone have an opinion on this. Why isn't the US military ever play a more active role (more than just behind the scenes) in this types of situation? What does the Status of Forces agreement state in regards to these ongoing skirmishes and the role the US might play. Land grabs have been the new norm these last 5 years or so --Russia: Ukraine and Crimea with former USSR satellite states shuddering. China making a huge economic exclusion zone in the China sea.
Sh1mon M4sada
Where's the evidence of diplomacy?
On the other hand, there's plenty evidence of aggression:
Ignoring court rulings;
Unlawful reclaimation and building military installation in internayional waters, and contested waters;
Ramming and sinking civillian boats;
Unlawful detention of foreign nationals in their own traditional fishing grounds; and more
China do all this because apparently, it's a 'dream'...
History has shown us, a war is inevitable when there is a rising power, because there is a perceived spoils of war, unfortunately for China's neighbours, there are too many CCP cronies, and far little spoils to share amongst them all. Their sons and daughters are immuned from national service, so they don't care about the loss. Every other country is responding to China's arms race, Japan would be prudent to do so in kind.
Muratafan
I'll give China credit, at least they are brazen (or stupid) enough to flat out admit their ambition: domination over Asia, by any means necessary.
I think the overwhelming majority of Japanese realize what China is all about and probably less than 10% (of which Akie is a member) would disagree with this.
1 Chinese can beat 1 Japanese.
10 Japanese can beat 100 Chinese. Although, I still don't like those odds as China currently outnumbers Japan by about 11 to 1!
Akie
K3PO, hahaha, worried ? I didn't even spend one penny on missiles, where is worry ? Yes, one nation, one people, one culture, that is not changeable. Japan will realize it in future generations.
OssanAmerica
The US-Japan Mutual Defense Treaty leaves the defense of Japan's borders to Japan, which controls missile batteries and challenges aerial and maritime intrusions into it's territory and space. The United States is obligated to defend Japan if it is attacked.
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/us-japan-security-alliance
https://www.mofa.go.jp/region/n-america/us/q&a/ref/1.html
Japan is doing the right thing, necessitated by China's aggressive behavior in keeping with their aspirations for territorial expansion and regional strategic dominance.
oldman_13
Good for Japan.
zones2surf
@Akie,
So, because China believes it has ancient claims to waters, islands, atolls and rocks that are not recognized by today's international law, they can just take whatever they want by force, sail in whatever waters they want, and basically ignore current diplomatic norms.
But yet they are peaceful.
Meanwhile, any actions by Japan to protect territory it believes belongs to it under international law and ancient claims is considered aggressive and belligerent.
Right, I see how that logic works. Basically, China can do whatever it wants in relation to territories that it believes are theirs and even if that action is aggressive military moves, it is a "peaceful" neighbor.
But if any country that has a claim that contravenes China's claims tries to protect their own claims, they are the aggressive, belligerent ones!!
Must be nice to be China under this hypocritical logic!!
smithinjapan
Jeez... when Russia does this on their territory, Japan throws a fit!
TIJ
Normally I'd say "hey, waddabout diplomacy?", but China is not a democratic country. Democracies deserve diplomacy, dictatorships don't. President Xi is now "President for LIFE" and China's censorship practices and social credit system are abhorrent, not to mention their body-part harvesting practices at prisons, and other atrocities. Japan must have a strong DEFENSE living near such a country as China.
zones2surf
Indeed.
And that is the whole point. Countries throw fits over the actions of other countries that occupy territory / waters they believe belong to them.
Japan hates what Russia does in the islands Japan believes are theirs. And Russia hates it when Japan shows the islands as belonging to Japan.
Same goes for the island occupied by Korea that Japan claims. Japan protests Korea's actions and Korea protests when Japan shows the islands as belonging to Japan in textbooks, etc.
And then there is China. Who claims everything within the 9 dashed lines and are aggressively pursuing those claims and protesting the actions of anyone that holds territories / waters that China believes belongs to it "from time before time" or some such.
socrateos
Just another sign that Japan is moving forward to become a normal nation, and it is good for free world.
CrucialS
Excellent! Good for both Taiwan and Japan!
Kenji Fujimori
See I've been warning everyone, WW3 is bound to happen from China, either via the Taiwan issues or by their continued expansion of fake islands converted into military bases
Kenji Fujimori
We need to build nukes
AlexBecu
@GW
I'm in favor of Japan rearming, having a normal military again, I'm even in favor of nuclear weapons since North Korea has it, so does China and Russia.
Recently China has been warming up towards Japan, hasn't asked for apologies, compesations, willing to meet Abe, exchange currency, joint projects in 3rd world countries. Their also the biggest trading partner for Japan. To me that's a clear improvement from several years ago. When Riots of Chinese in the streets destroying Japanese cars, they stopped selling rare earth materials to Japan, seized a ship, statements made that they will never meet with Abe will his in power. All of that has changed, not perfect, but clear improvement.
William77
Japan deploys it’s missiles and rightfuly so.
The national government of Japan have the right and duty to protect it’s people and territories from China.
Japan is far to be perfect,but it is a democracy and a non-violent and bullying country.
On the other hand the non-democratic totalitatian Chinese government threads everyone around the area.
And to Akie,so according to your thinking all east-asian countries should be unified under China?
I hope that you’re not serious.
Then according to your distorted thinking all Europe should be unified under Greece do to it’s ancient routes.
This is really non-sense.
Japan is NOT part of China and will never be.
elephant200
These islands were very small and without out hiding! Not a wise move to be there but you know Japan is very panic when Chinese naval daily crusing!
TIJ
@Kenji Fujimori
Ballistic missile submarines. The US should just give Japan a few of its 14 Ohio class boats since they will be replaced with the Columbia class boats.
Peeping_Tom
" The US should just give Japan a few of its 14 Ohio class boats since they will be replaced with the Columbia class boats."
Japan is more than capable of building their own, if they really want to do it.
Slowly what's been on the cards is taking shape; China is going to be boxed inside the first island chain.
Any JT "expert" with a brain and a map can check the precariousness of China's situation, if they try to force their way into the Pacific. China will be pooping themselves, just like a chicken when it sees a fox.
Akie
Peeping_Tom, your children will see a different world, as simple as that.