U.S. ambassador nominee to Japan says Tokyo will have to pay more

just say no. japan can't afford any more. send the 40,000 dependents and civilians home, plus about half of the military.

no one is going to make a ground invasion of japan. japan is only a target because of the u.s. presence. if missiles begin to fly, it won't matter anyway.

Pay nothing and tell them all to get out. They provide nothing useful.

It's like me demanding my landlord pay me more to stay in my apartment.

I wish Japan would call their bluff. Demand the US start paying billions for the privilege of stationing troops in Japan or get out within 90 days.

But Japan has no money.

There is a difference between being an ally and running a protection racket.

Glass said there was currently a delivery backlog of $50 billion worth of U.S. military equipment ordered by Japan and this needed to be resolved quickly.

You have a 50 billion backlog and yet you want more money?!? Incredible.

Poor Japan. Pay up and pay more. China is not interested to attacking Japan. Japan is a client.

The shake down commences.

"Whether we have weapons systems that we need to upgrade, command-and-control that we're going to be upgrading along with the Japanese, these are very expensive ventures," he said.

"And so undoubtedly, I do believe we're going to have to go to the Japanese and talk about an increase in that support."

Once Yoon gets the boot I would love to see Xi, Ishida and the new ROK president get together for a summit.

High time Japan now take this opportunity to find 60000 of its own people to man these bases and protect the homeland. I'm sure there would be an unprecedented number of applicants willing to do so.

Do not pay for them then you can justify your defense budget increase

If this excessive U.S. military presence were really for the protection of Japan, Glass might be right to say Japan must pay more to host the U.S. military.

 Lol.

Have fond memories of Rahm Emanuel yet? At least he could be ignored.

""President Donald Trump also has mused about the alliance with Japan, saying it obliged the U.S. to defend Japan but not vice versa, while Tokyo makes money on its U.S. ties.""

Well may be the U.S. needs to send BETTER negotiators the next time around.

So the US still owes $50 billion worth of war toyz that it hasn't delivered, Japan is the largest holder of US debt and Japan pays the most out of any of the US allies for Host Nation Support. For what? Yeah, yeah, the perceived threat of the China boogy man and the hype perpetrated by the folks in D.C. China is also the second largest holder of US debt, why would they want a war with the US?

This whole defense deal is nothing but a FAKE act.

Japan Can and will defend itself if allowed to arm itself.

Simple as that.

The colonial master is demanding a raise in protection money again. The U.S. can cut cost of stationing its troops altogether by allowing Japan to have nukes to protect itself from the nuclear-armed neighbors. What are you waiting for, Donald J Trump?

The cost value of US military presence in Japan, the contribution the Japan taxpayer provide is one question.

Another, under the Trump administration, is the confidence in such circumstances, the government of China was to blockade Taiwan, to invade, to use military pressure to enforce an embargo, to restrict access to east/south China sea shipping routes, that Donald Trump would respond to such action according to the terms of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty?

The once enduring relationship I contend need a thorough review.

The threats of trade sanctions tariffs?

The relationship with Putin's Russia, that Oval office stunt with Ukraine?

Can the current Ishiba administration negotiate with the US?

They may buy more American weapons, but former Prime Minister Abe would refuse to increase the amount. Sell them Tomahawks, please.

Easy process, Japan get back from US the 1,5 trillion dollars lent and kick out all the bases. My taxes are for the country where I live, not for an invader.

MeiyouwentiToday  07:54 am JST

The colonial master is demanding a raise in protection money again. The U.S. can cut cost of stationing its troops altogether by allowing Japan to have nukes to protect itself from the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Japan does not need permission from the US or anyone else to posess nukes. It has the ability to do so, but lacks the will to carry the political baggage that comes with it.

Considering the Trump administration's willingness to try to overturn any previous security agreements, nations that rely on the US nuclear umbrella like Japan, South Korea and Australia should have a meeting to discuss a joint response. These are all nations which would only consider holding nukes for defense, not using them as a threat while invading other countries like Russia.

trump is worry about the cost of having friend? What about the cost of having none?

The felon 47 is really stupid. But America feel great now, right?

""President Donald Trump also has mused about the alliance with Japan, saying it obliged the U.S. to defend Japan but not vice versa, while Tokyo makes money on its U.S. ties.""

Trump's victim syndome continues unleased. As usual his brain is in the 1980s.

Since those days Japan has legalized collective defense allowing the JSDF to come to the aid of US Forces if they are under attack.

And the US has makes money on it's ties with Japan as well. USD 50 billion in military purchases that Japan bought that is backlogged and not delivered?

This is really starting to feel as though this is protection racket and a big shake down. Didn’t they come back years ago asking for us to pay more, so we did. Now they back again, asking for even more. He’ll be back again, saying the terms and conditions have changed again in a couple of years like the tremendous deal he did with Mexico and Canada in his first term. This doesn’t feel like a shake down, it is a shakedown!

trump is worry about the cost of having friend? What about the cost of having none?

The felon 47 is really stupid. But America feel great now, right?

Yes

Another question is Japan's Shigeru Ishiba led government, has the proactive political will initiatives, to undertake such change, to openly publicly question the confidence trust in US/Japan relationship could be broken?

President Donald Trump also has mused about the alliance with Japan, saying it obliged the U.S. to defend Japan but not vice versa, 

Well let’s look at that. The only time in NATO history article 5 was invoked was by the U.S and all her Allie’s rallied around, sent troops to Afghanistan, fought, and died along side Americans, and let’s look at how America right now is treating those very same alllies. And also didn’t you just show complete disrespect to the U.K veterans by calling them “some random country that’s never fought a war in the past 40 years ?

No surprise, as the worlds become a dangerous place of late. EU just announced huge historic increases in defense spending and same will be needed in Japan after decades and decades of under investment.

"Peace thru Strength" = Create a Strong Deterrent!

Why can’t your Prime Minister and his Government go Directly and Tell the U.S. President what he wants for his so called people and what his wants for his country this is the true fact about Japan they are WEAK and always will be so that is the reason for all and any other country that tells them what to do is they can’t speak for nothing because they are

SCARED…..

The U.S. is lucky they're allowed to station their troops there for strategic purposes. We all know that they are allowed to be in Japan by the Japanese government because they serve as a way to prevent from being attacked from their enemies from the west. Having U.S. forces in the Pacific, as in Guam and Hawaii, allows for Americans to feel more secure from their western borders.

Well let’s look at that. The only time in NATO history article 5 was invoked was by the U.S and all her Allie’s rallied around, sent troops to Afghanistan, fought, and died along side Americans, and let’s look at how America right now is treating those very same alllies. And also didn’t you just show complete disrespect to the U.K veterans by calling them “some random country that’s never fought a war in the past 40 years ?

I think a lot of other allies are watching slowly and not making any concrete retaliations because they can tell there is a lot of discourse going on in the states right now with everything from the country being turned upside down or sabotaging relationships with certain allies and trying to kiss up to certain enemies and the breaking of our own rules and laws. So either in the next 3 years or less things will go back to normal or everything will be impossible to fix again sooner or later after they deport Muskrat out of the country. But this is the fault of flawed court systems and not holding people in power accountable for their actions and lies. But its up to the people to open their eyes and realize that telling the same lie a thousand times doesn't turn it into a true statement

.."two sides committed to a Golden Age of relations "

More like golden shower from one side.

Another representative from the US big industrial military complex who comes to Japan and first thing he's saying to put up more money in American weapons before anything else, typical American way.

That show the arrogance and aggressive nature of the country he represents, while the manipulation of narrative tries to paint imaginary threats from neighbors to sustain more sales of arms and make sure the warlords of Wall Street are happy.

Money which should be used instead to tackle more important social issues in Japan.

Lets not forget that under the defense strategy, Japan aims to eventually double its annual military spending to around 10 trillion yen ($63 billion), making it the world’s No. 3 military spender after the United States and China.

Peter NeilToday  06:59 am JST

just say no. japan can't afford any more. send the 40,000 dependents and civilians home, plus about half of the military.

no one is going to make a ground invasion of japan. japan is only a target because of the u.s. presence. if missiles begin to fly, it won't matter anyway.

This is true. Peter Neil you are right. Smaller US military would be better for Japan.

Tell them to leave.

Simply put. Say no and scale back on the military presence. Saves money all around. It sounds like extortion (protection money) to me.

No matter what you say or your opinion wouldn’t make a lick difference..Go Japan grow some big balls and stop putting it behind your a?? .your people are crying like babies give them their bottles please so all the crying can stop

love you people …

Tell them to leave.

China would love that for sure!

Tell that to the ROC and ROK who scuppered their nuke programs under pressure from Washington.

Japan does not need permission from the US or anyone else to posess nukes. It has the ability to do so, but lacks the will to carry the political baggage that comes with it.

Any one of any nationality who seeks reduced tensions and wants to avoid an arms race in the region would love that for sure.

China would love that for sure!

Better to send them back to US, in all countries US has bases..

Will be a favor to the whole world..

That MAGA regime is full of greedy clowns..

Big day to watch out for is April 2nd, DJT starts up his 'reciprocal' tariffs. Surely Japan's very concerned about this given their persistent and large US trade surpluses.

Likely private talks taking place now, hopefully Japan will be lowering their tariffs to match US rates. As Consumers everywhere want Lower Tariffs and thus Lower Prices!

Good.

Pay up.

So if Japan doesn't increase spending, does the US just leave and give up most of their leverage in Asia behind? I doubt it.

Probably just more punishing tarrifs but Japan looks like it's already in that sphere anyway.

The government of Japan should look to unshackling future security responsibility away from what could be considered a single source country ally.

More towards a shared regional policy.

The challenge will be the time such a policy requires.

Also US present future military technical development superiority

This process could decades, possibly, probably

It's now the time for the Japanese to cut the military fat and waste and send Trump's troops packing back to where they belong, like, "YOU'RE FIRED!".

No thanks. America can take all their soldiers back to America. They are nothing but nuisance who are constantly getting arrested for raping Japanese locals.

"U.S. ambassador nominee to Japan says Tokyo will have to pay more."

Some issue are just too complex for my pay grade! "Whether we have weapons systems that we need to upgrade, command-and-control that we're going to be upgrading along with the Japanese, these are very expensive ventures."

China would love that for sure!

China would be a more balanced, stable and lucrative ally for Japan anyway. No complaints here.

DT is many things but he is not an historian…

Trump wants to colonise Canada and Greenland. Will he want the US to occupy Japan again? Get the Americans out and Japan will be safer. Get their nuclear weapons out of Japan, too.

Look what happened when the US protected Cambodia, Laos, Afghanistan, Iraq. During the Vietnam war Thailand wise and threw the Americans out unlike Cambodia and Laos. Learn from history.

The Americans cannot be trusted.

Tokyo is obligated to pay more. It has taken enough from the US already in the form of protection that has allowed its economy to thrive.

Tokyo is obligated to pay more. It has taken enough from the US already in the form of protection that has allowed its economy to thrive.

Maybe best to read up on the history of why we are in the current arrangement before embarrassing yourself.

The mob shakedown continues.

Shame on the US

u.s. manufacturing was sent offshore by u.s. companies to increase profits. not from japan or anyone else showing up at the docks and hoping to sell stuff.

the u.s. protects its industries as much as any country. it has tariffs like other countries, or bans foreign products completely to protect apple and others.

telling another country try they have to do something is the height of arrogance.

George Glass has the ruddy face of someone who enjoys a glass or three...

The bully in the kitchen has been eating more than his fair share. It is time for Asia to form its own Asian treaty organization. Let Trump pull back his forces to Guam. The US dominance in the world is receding. NATO must go on its own and so must Asia. Trump is more aligned with Russia and North Korea. He can form his own treaty alliance with his comrades in arms. He is already Putin’s mouthpiece. Trump can’t even recall who invaded who in the Ukrainian conflict. He had it completely ass backwards, which confirms he is mentally unstable. It is time for a New World order which includes a second cultural revolution in China to kick out the incompetent party bureaucrats who have no idea how to run a declining industrial economy like China’s.

Tokyo will have to pay more... for karaage tabehoudai?

MeiyouwentiToday 07:54 am JST

The colonial master is demanding a raise in protection money again. The U.S. can cut cost of stationing its troops altogether by allowing Japan to have nukes to protect itself from the nuclear-armed neighbors. What are you waiting for, Donald J Trump?

While I can't speak for the current surrender president, I'm sure other modern presidents would have been happy to have Japan have nukes given the resurgent China and NK.

The US should pay a rent to Japan not the other way around. Anyway, we can not rely on trump to protect Japan the same way he did the Ukraine. The solution is simple, evict the US army and build alliance and an army with Europe.

bass4funkToday  10:00 am JST

Tell them to leave.

China would love that for sure!

Blah, blah. US forces in Japan and Korea aren't necessary anymore certainly when the US suddenly cries like a baby victim in a pathetic attempt to brainwash his braindead supporters that America is suddenly a victim and every country is out to take advantage. Yeah.....America....the victim. LOL.

The US could easily maintain a similar level of deterrence by parking a couple of aircraft carriers and submarines in the Sea of Japan and East China Sea and fund them themselves since they insist on more cash from Japan. As if North Korea or China would all of sudden attack South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan.

> …modern presidents would have been happy to have Japan have nukes

Here comes the usual suspects bringing forward the manipulative narrative of the big US industrial military complex. The same apparatus that, after provoking the conflict in Eastern Europe, and supporting the mass killings in Gaza through their buddies in Israel, eyes to wage another war in Asia to support the profits of the hedge funds in Wall Street.

MilesTegToday 03:50 pm JST

As if North Korea or China would all of sudden attack South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan.

Taiwan definitely. China didn't build the world's largest navy for nothing. And no, air craft carriers are not as good as land bases.

FosToday 03:52 pm JST

Here comes the guy who only reads books about the US MIC. Also Still Putin's War.

Reality check: United States of America military spending in 2023 was over $910 billions, 3 times as much as China, based on the statistics from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The new statistics say that the 41 companies in the Top 100 are based in the United States, and recorded arms revenues of $317 billion, half the total arms revenues of the Top 100 and 2.5 per cent more than in 2022.

Since 2018, the top five companies in the Top 100 have all been based in the USA.

FosToday 03:55 pm JST

And that is a great thing as the Free World needs a reliable supply of weapons. Also the next 5 are Chinese.

The U.S. controls about 800 military bases in more than 90 countries worldwide, as opposed to 3 or 4 of China globally. And yet the US military-industrial complex narrative wants us to believe it’s China and Russia that seek world domination and are the biggest threat to world peace, not the United States.

History lessons, as opposed to the US military dispatches being fed to the usual suspects: 

Since 1945 the US past administrations have tried to overthrow more than 50 governments, many of them democratically elected; grossly interfered in elections in 30 countries; bombed the civilian populations of 30 countries; used chemical and biological weapons; and attempted to assassinate foreign leaders.

Of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, who represent the great powers, only China has not fought a war in 40 years. In contrast to China, in the last three decades, America has fought a war or been involved in military actions every year.

FosToday 04:06 pm JST

A carefully selected date for China, who actually fought against the UN. The US needs such a worldwide presence to prevent the 24 million people in Taiwan from being annihilated.

@Taiwanisnotchina

"Also the next 5 are Chinese."

Can we have a link for that please?

Hello Kitty 321Today 04:24 pm JST

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defense_contractors

Numbers are close enough. Not going to argue the details when the guy I was replying to has the singular mission to post the same things over and over again.

It's like me demanding my landlord pay me more to stay in my apartment.

Well, kind of! You must bring some guns to protect his property. I think is more like paying the "protection fee" to the mafia while feeding and housing them.

TaiwanIsNotChinaToday  03:53 pm JST

MilesTegToday 03:50 pm JST

As if North Korea or China would all of sudden attack South Korea, Japan, or Taiwan.

Taiwan definitely. China didn't build the world's largest navy for nothing. And no, air craft carriers are not as good as land bases.

Any military conflict between China and the US will be an air and sea battle. A land battle against China's population of 1.4bil would be a strategic mistake because you have to occupy land that you take. That's the cardinal rule of land engagements. It would come down to nukes before any land campaign because it would most likely be unwinnable and take decades.

China have been building up their military for purely political and nationalistic reasons. They've been sabre-rattling a Taiwanese invasion for over 70yrs. Loss of US land bases in Japan isn't going to be the reason for an invasion cause it changes little militarily. And it could easily lead to WWIII. China knows this and that the US has nukes.

Hello Kitty 321

It is the same answer we get over and over again, like: it’s ok to wage war all over the world profiting from killing, creating destructions, and destabilising other countries, fabricating lies (numbers are close enough :)), as long as the financial markets are up and the American weapons manufacturers keep gaining. 

This is essentially what the new Ambassador of United States of America is saying to Japan

＠TaiwanisnotChina

I see now, but I think Fos was saying that the top 5 companies in the Top 100 are all based in the USA, I don't think he was referring solely to 'defense contractors.' The first Chinese company in the list is number 16 and the next is 29. (https://companiesmarketcap.com/)

Like protection money extorted from business vendors, the mafia Trump always say not enough!

Trump is destroying America's alliances with its long term allies. He is destroying the American economy. He is destroying the American military. He is destroying the American government. And to think, he has been in office less than two months.

I am reminded of the downfall of Athens in the Peloponnesian War. Athens was the greatest super power in Ancient Greece. Her military power was unrivaled. She charged other city-states for protection, while using the funds collected for gold helmets and public monuments. In time, she lost her allies to Sparta, and never again was a great military power. At the rate he is going, Trump could bring about the destruction of the United States within two decades, perhaps much less.

At least, Japanese general public facing unprecedented inequality or poverty have no money to pay more to Trump.

If this enormous U.S. military presence were really for the protection of Japan, Glass might be right to say that Japan must pay more for hosting U.S. forces.

The tail-wagging Tokyo, that does think so, would no doubt conform to their demand

Handful of major military superpowers, one of them launches war against smaller country, and another appears as "intermediary", saying "If you want to end the war, hold out something valuable from your country to us" to small victim country, such "deal" is disgusting.

Hello Kitty 321Mar. 14 06:39 pm JST

＠TaiwanisnotChina

I see now, but I think Fos was saying that the top 5 companies in the Top 100 are all based in the USA, I don't think he was referring solely to 'defense contractors.' The first Chinese company in the list is number 16 and the next is 29. (https://companiesmarketcap.com/)

Having a high market capitalization company is nothing to be ashamed of.

1glennMar. 14 07:34 pm JST

It's even worse than that as there is no real military rival to the US and this is purely fascists wanting to burn down anything they can't control.

contribution percentage of the cost of stationing US troops,

Germany 33%

Italia 41%

South Korea 40%

Japan is 74.5%.

@Peter Neil Wrote in the first post of this thread:

"no one is going to make a ground invasion of japan."

Okay, and the islands in the southern part of Okinawa Prefecture, are not Japan's land territory according to your criteria. Because China could take advantage of the invasion of Taiwan to occupy part of these islands.

But since they are islands far from the Japanese mainland, no one should give a damn what happens to the Japanese people on those islands. Despite the fact that they are taxed like any other Japanese.

A very lucid reasoning, yes sir. First grade school. (I apologize for the last sentences, I was using sarcasm if you haven't noticed).

u.s. defense spending is rife with inefficiency and waste. the effective total spending could be half.

everyone knows china has stated its intention to “reunify” taiwan by 2027. if trump is still in office, and since vance is even worse than trump (if that’s even possible), i expect no u.s. military resistance. taiwan should expect none either.

i expect sanctions, and that’s about it.

american military and dependents in japan will continue enjoying the best and most coveted assignment in the world. i’m confident the downvotes are from them…

Peter Neil, until China can make the kind of chips Taiwan makes invading them would be mutually assured economic destruction. So much stuff would grind to a halt. China is currently at least 7-8 years behind.

The US doesn't have a policy of defending Taiwan. We have a policy of sending a handful of cruise missiles at TSMC FABs. And Taiwan has a policy of taking them out in the event the US doesn't.

Apparently you do not know that no Chinese official has ever talked about a 2027 date. The 2027 bad China date was invented by U.S. Adm. John Aquilino based on who knows what.

everyone knows china has stated its intention to “reunify” taiwan by 2027

Apparently you do not know that no Chinese official has ever talked about a 2027 date. The 2027 bad China date was invented by U.S. Adm. John Aquilino based on who knows what.

No. The 2027 wording is buried in Part 16 of the lengthy “14th Five-Year Plan [FYP] for National Economic and Social Development and Long-Range Objectives for 2035” is a call for China to “ensure the achievement of the 2027 centennial military building goal” (确保2027年实现建军百年奋斗目标, quebao 2027 nian shixian jianjun bainian fendou mubiao) (Xinhua, March 13). This new milestone, (hereinafter referred to as the “2027 goal”) marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PLA on August 1, 1927.

This is how it was reported in the Chinese press. Nobody made this up. It came out of a National People's Congress.

The US doesn't have a policy of defending Taiwan. 

The heck it doesn't. A lot of planning and effort is devoted to protecting Taiwan from a Chinese invasion.

"no one is going to make a ground invasion of japan."

Do you consider the Ryukyu Islands including Okinawa to be "Japan"? The Chinese press and even some official statements call the Ryukyu Islands "Japanese occupied" while making claims about the Ryukyu Kingdom traditionally being aligned with China. I think you would have to be a fool not to see the implications. China is all but telling the world they are going to take the Ryukyu Islands at some point if they think they can.

Fascinating. Yes, 2027 will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PLA. Your "proof" says nothing about a Taiwan invasion or any military operation.

Show us the security treaty, chief. I believe you believe the USA is a nation based on the rule of law. If there is such a document the American people have the right to view it.

The heck it doesn't. A lot of planning and effort is devoted to protecting Taiwan from a Chinese invasion.

deanzaZZRToday 06:43 am JST

Show us the security treaty, chief. I believe you believe the USA is a nation based on the rule of law. If there is such a document the American people have the right to view it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taiwan_Relations_Act

You are right that it should be upgraded to a full mutual defense treaty, but imagine the stink coming out of Peking after that.

@TaiwanIsNotChina This is complete deflection. Treaties must be ratified by the Senate. Go ahead and have the Senate hearings and see what happens. The American public can participate. People around the world can observe and comment.

deanzaZZRToday 06:56 am JST

@TaiwanIsNotChina This is complete deflection. Treaties must be ratified by the Senate.

It's even better than ratified by the Senate: it was passed by the full Congress overwhelmingly.

Go ahead and have the Senate hearings and see what happens. The American public can participate.

Just because Trump has soiled the political discourse doesn't mean that previously valid laws aren't still in effect.

People around the world can observe and comment.

But they do not get a vote.

Funny man. Any security treaty with the government in Taiwan would need to be ratified by the US Senate. Let the hearings commence!

deanzaZZRToday 07:09 am JST

Funny man. Any security treaty with the government in Taiwan would need to be ratified by the US Senate. Let the hearings commence!

It would be very easy in normal times to convince Americans that 24 million Taiwanese don't deserve to be annihilated. Whether Trump would decide that we have always been allies with PRC, however, I don't know.

Show us the security treaty, chief. I believe you believe the USA is a nation based on the rule of law. If there is such a document the American people have the right to view it.

It is not perhaps explicitly stated but we train and equip for the defense of Taiwan. It is the number one priority in the Pacific. All of our training and equipment is directed at defending Taiwan. I have been around this for a good long time.

Fascinating. Yes, 2027 will be the 100th anniversary of the founding of the PLA. Your "proof" says nothing about a Taiwan invasion or any military operation.

That is what got the US military thinking the Chinese are signaling they are going to have a go at Taiwan in 2027. You read that, you look at their trend line in terms of when new ships, missiles and aircraft types will be ready for operational use and you start thinking 2027 or very soon thereafter is when China is going to invade Taiwan. If you look at the CNOs website, or at least before Jupiter fired her, everything was about being ready to confront China in 2027. That is public document.

It wouldn't be the first time the USA military invaded China. Good luck this time, you might find it a bit more difficult this time.

US should pay countless compensation for rape victims and air craft accidents. Mostly for Okinawa. Japan can say NO!

Modern warfare does not need military bases for deterrence. NATO expansion did no deter Russia. In fact it has provoked other way around.

If Russia, NK or China want to attack Japan, they do not need to send a single soldier or ship.

They can fly missiles, cyber attack and electronic jamming of communication network. This world is no longer in Saving Private Ryan and Top Gun era.

US military hardware bought by Japan can be disabled from supplier as well. In the real combat, it is questionable about their effectiveness. Only Israel has special privilege for fine tuning the software according their needs.

Hosting bases are disaster for environment and burden for local communities. If they wish , they should pack and leave sooner than later.

It wouldn't be the first time the USA military invaded China. Good luck this time, you might find it a bit more difficult this time.

No one is talking about invading China. A successful defense of Taiwan doesn't require that.

Modern warfare does not need military bases for deterrence. NATO expansion did no deter Russia. In fact it has provoked other way around.

The tyranny of distance makes forward bases essential. Okinawa and Taiwan are a day's sail from the Chinese mainland. Okinawa and Taiwan are three weeks sail from the US, two weeks from Hawaii, five to six days sail from Guam. Without forward bases the US could not defend either. The Chinese invasion would be over before US forces arrived.

Alternatively, you can keep your military on the other side of the Pacific and let Asian countries figure it out themselves without the threat of USA violence. Japan has never fully engaged with its long-time neighbors in Asia since USA occupation precisely because it lives under the security umbrella of the USA military.

Let's not forget that USA bases in Japan were used to fight wars in Korea and Vietnam with zero agency from the host nation. What a sad legacy.

f Russia, NK or China want to attack Japan, they do not need to send a single soldier or ship.

They can fly missiles, cyber attack and electronic jamming of communication network. This world is no longer in Saving Private Ryan and Top Gun era.

So, what is the point of such a war if it isn't to take and hold their enemy's territory. Lobbing missiles at Japan would accomplish very little. What is the object of such an attack?

What you also seem unaware of is that there are things you can do with manned aircraft that you can't do with missiles. There has been chatter about missiles replacing aircraft since the late 1950s but it hasn't happened and probably never will. There will certainly be manned-unmanned teaming but there is no replacement for the human mind in a cockpit and a lot of missions like close air support where aircraft coordinate with ground forces to hit targets as they emerge or heavy bombing that requires payloads well beyond what any missile can carry that are not going to be performed by missiles. Stealth aircraft can arrive undetected, something not possible with ballistic missiles.

China would attack the Ryukyus to strip them from Japanese control and establish a version of the old Ryukyu Kingdom as a tributary state to China. Russia doesn't have the resources to attack Japan. They lack amphibious lift. But China certainly has the amphibious lift today and they train constantly in amphibious warfare.

China would attack Taiwan attempting to place it under communist control. There is no question they will do this if there is ever a time they think they could do so successfully and not suffer a humiliating defeat.

Direct involvement in an unfinished civil war requires that.

Now it's clear why China is quickly developing its nuclear deterrent not only adding to its ballistic inventory but also likely developing theater nukes for the first time. See Atlantic Council article advising the Pentagon to develop a battle plan that involves the potential use of tactical nuclear weapons on the Chinese Mainland.

No one is talking about invading China. A successful defense of Taiwan doesn't require that.

Lobbing missiles at Japan would accomplish very little.

Japan is not rich in natural resources with limited land space. It is also prone for natural disasters. It lacks the attraction as long term occupied territory. It may be useful for strategic location. Russia and China have already stolen some small islands. US did nothing for that.

What is the object of such an attack?

The objective of such an attack from them is expelling US bases near their border. US does not allow Russia missile base in Cuba. There was almost showdown between US and Russia back in 1962 because of Cuba missiles crisis. The same analogy applied to NK, Russia and China.

Stealth aircraft can arrive undetected, something not possible with ballistic missiles.

"Stealth aircraft are still vulnerable to detection while and immediately after using their weaponry." 

The F-22 and F-35 can operate like a small AWACS system sharing data and coordinating other fighters.

Enemy radar will cover the airspace around these sites with overlapping coverage, making undetected entry by conventional aircraft nearly impossible. Stealthy aircraft can also be detected, but only at short ranges around the radars; for a stealthy aircraft there are substantial gaps in the radar coverage.

MiG 31 of Russia can detect an F-22! The MiG-31 “Foxhound” is a 4th-Generation fighter, a much-improved version of the Mig-25 “Foxbat”.

Stealth fighter like a F-35 or F-22, was detected with airship drone used by PLA because it cast a shadow against the radiation emitted by a satellite. In this case, it was one of the satellites in the Starlink constellation.

Ryukyus to strip them from Japanese control and establish a version of the old Ryukyu Kingdom as a tributary state to China.

In fact Ryuku had been tribunal state to China in Ming Dynasty. There were a lot of trade, cultural exchange and maritime visits between them. However Ming Dynasty did not colonize Ryukyu as one of their colony. Ryuku has been colony of US for 80 years with countless crimes from servicemen. Air craft accidents have been part of daily lives.

China would attack Taiwan attempting to place it under communist control.

Without US intervention, Taiwan will not last for a few weeks. However it will be very unlikely US will involve with their blood and boots as well. According Ukraine experience, Taiwan can not trust US commitment as reality. US under Trump and US under Biden is complete opposite.

**“China isn’t coming to fight Japan—Chinese people just want to enjoy life. Don’t pay them anything and send them back to Trump. This is exactly why people end up overworked.

Japan needs the United States, and the United States needs Japan—it’s a 50/50 balance to maintain global power. Let them go.”**

Does Japan has any minerals if it cannot pay what is deserved to America?

Bass4funk

China would love that for sure!

This is simply the fear narrative that the US feeds Japan to keep them a client state for the US Military complex.

Japan needs to see through this and work more on positive and mutually respectful relations with the Chinese.

The Chinese have no intention of attacking Japan, despite the myth making of the pro-US crowd.

deanzaZZRMar. 14  10:08 am JST

Tell that to the ROC and ROK who scuppered their nuke programs under pressure from Washington.

They didn't have to but gave in. Japan does not have to.

Japan has no 'cards', only a very tough neighborhood and domestic situation with terrible demographics.

Japan, like EU now, needs to steadily increase defense spending in order to maintain Peace thru Strength

China in 2025 will increase its defense budget 7.2% this year, as it continues its campaign to build a larger, more modern military to assert its territorial claims and challenge the U.S. defense lead in Asia.

China’s military spending remains the second largest behind the U.S. and it already has the world’s largest navy.

The budget, which adds up to about $245 billion, was announced at the National People’s Congress, the annual meeting of China’s legislature. I am of the opinion and an expert on this matter directly. 

China’s total spending on defense may be 40% higher or more because of items included under other budgets geared at black programs and cyber warfare.

So, what is the end result China would want? China has massive needs to sustain. Needs an unmeasurable number of resources to run (modern day China) and feed its peoples. 

The only thing keeping China from running over this entire region of Japan, Philippines, Taiwan, South Korea. 

Is the Japanese self-defense force and its partners in the region. Yes U.S. forces make the up the bulk of it, but other countries are involved as well. It’s easy to say send the troops home. It’s easy to say Japan is broke and should not pay more. But like anything else. It costs more to run defense in the times we are living in like anything else. 

There is direct intelligence coming from Japan that China would invade and run through Japan in microsecond if Japan had no allies and partners. Japan’s defenses would be wiped aside in two maybe three days. 

Japan needs the help of. Canada, Britain, America, Australia, Philippines if attacked. 

And Japan will pay more. And no amount of crying and whining about it will not change the outcome. 

Matter of fact. China is so scary and so strong pray it may be enough. 

Because its not.

China is not building the largest Fleet of Naval vessels just for show guys....

"President Donald Trump's nominee to be the U.S. ambassador to Japan, George Glass, said on Thursday that Washington will "undoubtedly" have to ask Japan for an increase in its financial contribution for the upkeep of U.S. forces there, referring to an agreement due to be renegotiated in 2027."

Told ya! I know a number of "pro-Trump" Japanese who are going to be infuriated by this and I cannot wait to laugh in their faces. I told them Trump would not only never get rid of the bases, but would demand Japan pay more for defense, and also insist they buy more arms from the US. The guy laughed and said that would never happen. :)

Japanese and US warmongers need to create imaginary enemies in order to station its troops and upgrading weapons in billions. The military industrial complex and some Japanese politicians stand to benefit from all these fear.