Abe plan for land-attack counterpunch could mark major military shift for Japan

Good.

If Japan wasn't constantly being harassed and antagonized by its neighbors whether North Korean missiles or Chinese territorial disputes, this would never have been needed.

"The main reason for our action is China. We haven't really emphasised that too much, but the security choices we make are because of China,"

Tell it like it is. Japan is only needing to ramp up its defenses because the North Koreans keep lobbing missiles all over the place, and China tries to take anything it wants.

China’s continual aggression will force this to happen eventually. If they don’t like it they have it in their hands to remove the necessity; stop the aggression.

China’s continual aggression is by design to wean Japan from the US without fighting. Japan needs to see through this and coordinate with the US.

This is madness, it's purposely marching straight into a war. But it's too much to seek other options, easier to wave a flag and send people to their deaths. Same old story politicians get a sence of glory neck deep in money stained with the blood of generations.

oldman_13Today  06:39 am JST

If Japan wasn't constantly being harassed and antagonized by its neighbors whether North Korean missiles or Chinese territorial disputes, this would never have been needed.

Perhaps Japan wouldn't need to worry about being harassed and antagonized if it didn't have so many unrepentant militarists in charge.

Anyway, why does anyone think this is a good idea? With the kind of people who get into senior positions in the LDP and the military directing military operations Japanese forces would get wiped out in a matter of days.

China is like a barking dog which will turn its tail the moment you pick a stone.

Japan and militarization doesn’t haven’t worked well earlier but it’s time now. As I said before all Xi needs is a spanking!!!!

“Perhaps Japan wouldn't need to worry about being harassed and antagonized if it didn't have so many unrepentant militarists in charge.”

Hear hear

Excellent move. There is nothing unconstitutional about Japan defending her nation - and if that involves a land, sea or air assault on other nations to prevent them launching attacks, so be it. Why should Japan be the only nation in the region unable to conduct war in other nations? Completely unfair.

Lets all hope PM Abes strength in standing up for Japan is adopted by Suga-san.

If Japan wasn't constantly being harassed and antagonized by its neighbors whether North Korean missiles or Chinese territorial disputes, this would never have been needed.

err, wasn’t it Japan that constantly harassed and attacked their neighbors for thousands of years? If Japan wasn’t as barbaric in the past, the neighbors wouldn’t want to defend/attack Japan, would they?

Abe has appointed Suga soon to be annointed his Kagemusha whose strings he can continue to pull from behind the scenes. The remilitarization of Japan will inevitably result in a resurgence of right-wing Japanese nationalism. But will the Japanese people chastened by the debacle of WW2 allow themselves to be tricked once again into falling for a more "friendly fascism"?

I'm looking forward to see Japan purchase American cruise missile systems in the near future. I have witnessed the consequences that followed my country's decision to adopt US missile defense (THAAD) and some long-range radar systems: spiking anti-Korean sentiment in China, sudden drought of in-bound Chinese tourists, and an all-out effort to ban Korean imports by the Chinese government and business communities. I think the Japanese need to see for themselves whether they are really willing to endure the economic damages that entail such a new defense policy stance because, believe me, quite a lot of tough-talking South Koreans around me are now having second thought about the decision made five years ago.

"What happens if the United States asks Japan to fire them, and we don't want to?" he asked.

We will be sacrificed.

does Abe/Suga really believe our 20 nukes on our tiny island nation are any match to China’s 400+?

Perhaps Japan wouldn't need to worry about being harassed and antagonized if it didn't have so many unrepentant militarists in charge.

China has harassed Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei.....

So by that argument all these countries have somehow invaded China in the past and have unrepentant militarists in charge.

GoodlucktoyouToday  10:10 am JST

does Abe/Suga really believe our 20 nukes on our tiny island nation are any match to China’s 400+?

I think what they believe is that all this macho talk plays well with gullible right-wing military nuts come election time. As long as they keep getting the votes it doesn't matter how ineffective or downright dangerous their policies are.

The worst policy is anti-China policy, period. It only takes one fool to destroy a nation, history never lies.

What Japan really needs is to develop more sophisticated *defence*** **technologies like lasers and satellites which can properly track incoming missiles and destroy them in flight.

The first strike option is a foolish one and would probably start a war if anything.

There is absolutely no need to go anywhere near the constitution for this.

Btw. Some other commentators seem to think that Japan's past aggressions are the reason for China's.

This is more about taming a rival than just history. The proof lies in the fact that China is also bullying neighbours that have had relatively good relations with it.

Ken Wyatt said "The proof lies in the fact that China is also bullying neighbours that have had relatively good relations with it."

Would you give one example to support your "fact" ? Which neighbor did China bully ?

The worst policy is anti-China policy, period. It only takes one fool to destroy a nation, history never lies.

Xi has done a good job on that till now.

China was inching towards being a global power earlier, its a global pariah now!!!!

ulysses, what crime is it to be a global power ?

Would you give one example to support your "fact" ? Which neighbor did China bully ?

Philippines for one. Vietnam for another. The Chinese send oil exploration ships into the Vietnamese EEZ without Vietnam's permission in violation of international maritime law. Then to add insult to injury, when Vietnam contracts with an Indian firm to explore for oil well inside Vietnam's EEZ the Chinese interfere with the Indian ship, harass her and prevent her from conducting exploratory drilling.

The Chinese surround a the Philippine island of Pag-asa with upwards of 275 small fishing boats and force Philippine fishing boats out. Later when Philippines Coast Guard arrested some Chinese fishing boat crews for fishing inside the Philippines EEZ, China retaliated by taking Scarborough Shoals from the Philippines and forcing their fishing boats out. It is very close to Subic and Manila Bays.

ulyssesToday  10:16 am JST

Perhaps Japan wouldn't need to worry about being harassed and antagonized if it didn't have so many unrepentant militarists in charge.

China has harassed Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Brunei.....

So by that argument all these countries have somehow invaded China in the past and have unrepentant militarists in charge.

If you're so keen on false logic do you think that the other countries that are distrustful of Japan have behaved the same way as China?

I'm not keen on the the CCP personally but I think any kind of Chinese administration would be right to be wary of LDP administrations, no matter how it had behaved towards other countries.

In the finest tradition of “we had to destroy the country in order to save it”, the increasingly inaptly named JSDF is moving towards a belligerent first strike posture of the kind that prevailed the last time things went all pear shaped. It was Twain, wasn’t it, who said that although history doesn’t repeat itself, it often rhymes.

It only takes one fool to destroy a nation

And if he looks like Winnie the Pooh, all the better

you can't join CCP without very serious testing and approval

Power to the People!*

(*terms and conditions apply, billionaires especially welcome)

expatToday  11:50 am JST

Abe's proposing a kamikaze attack by Japanese land forces in China?

Or lots of banzai charges. I mean, the only reason they didn't work was that the enemy also had trained soldiers with machine guns on their side. What could possibly go wrong?

Really those Love the nation, love the party classes really do work. Even in the face of reality and fact. Maybe those education camps really do work?

You don't have to be too smart to join the CCP. Most working people want no part of it. If you have money or a large business you are in.

Yup. Alibaba's Jack Ma , Tencent founder Pony Ma and Baidu founder Robin Li are all CCP members:

https://japantoday.com/category/tech/insight-tiktok-troubles-narrow-gap-between-beijing-and-bytedance-founder-zhang-yiming

you can't join CCP without very serious testing and approval

Amazing that it is so rife with corruption. Even the corrupt elite CCP members say they want to root it out.

Japan is prudent to purchase long range missiles that can neutralize hostile targets deep inside a hostile country. Such a deterant will make it necessary for a potential foe to think twice about initiating a conflict, even a limited one, with Japan. To assume Japan would strike first would be to fall into the trap of thinking it started one war it will start another. There is no logical reasoning for that thinking as those who made the fatal choice to start a war are all buried now. New people used to living in peace will not make the same mistakes. The world has changed and so have circumstances. An ability to retaliate to discourage or stop additional attacks on Japan is a logical asset to possess. Especially since those who may oppose Japan getting such a system, already have that power themselves.

If Japan government is serious about curtailing Chinese activities, get some ICBMs with nuclear warheads. Power is the only thing Chinese understand. BGM-109 Tomahawk cruise missile are not enough to give Chinese a reason to pause.

If you're so keen on false logic do you think that the other countries that are distrustful of Japan have behaved the same way as China?

The false logic is the one which tries to find excuses for China’s expansionist policies by blaming it on historical injustices.

I'm not keen on the the CCP personally but I think any kind of Chinese administration would be right to be wary of LDP administrations, no matter how it had behaved towards other countries.

Dictatorial regime’s always have reasons, real or perceived, for their behavior. And they rely on the naive to help them push their agendas.

Yup. Alibaba's Jack Ma , Tencent founder Pony Ma and Baidu founder Robin Li are all CCP members:

If you do well in school, sports or anything else you are encouraged to join the CCP. Many people do it out of pressure rather than beliefs.

I have a good friend who is a CCP member because her father forced her to !!

So...a neighboring country with a major chip on its shoulder and long, bitter grudge has exhibited the following:

Violent border disputes with India;

Forceful takeover of Hong Kong;

Blocking water flows to its neighboring countries;

Built military bases in Africa (now why might that be?);

Built artificial islands in the SCS;

Has a military budget greater than all other Asian countries...COMBINED;

And...yet Japan is the one with 'so many unrepentant militarists'?

Yikes, I suppose we should all learn Mandarin right now.

Countries interested in sticking around to ensure that the long term interests of its people are protected need to get real and start playing the quid pro quo game. Membership of a CCP which is increasingly taking on all the characteristics of a power obsessed bully boy, should constitute sufficient grounds for automatic denial of entry permission as well as termination of whatever residence rights have already been afforded these sleepers agents and their families.

Abe's proposing a kamikaze attack by Japanese land forces in China?

You are an Oracle. You forgot the part we have to buy us weapons first.

great about time.

There certainly are lot of people on JT that want to screw over Japan and not allow Japan to defend itself. Seeing that is in English, it tells me its mostly foreigners and a few wumao.

A right-wing, conservative, hell bent on militarizing Japan, who just resigned, 'due to health reasons' and one might add, a failing government, who was never in the military, who has never experienced combat and apparently is ill-informed about past experiences such as The Great War - insists on creating a military to fight an imaginary enemy.

The missile systems on offer are less than functional, but certainly expensive and manufactured in the USA.

Meanwhile, the genuine and ongoing disasters are neglected; global warming aka climate change a worldwide economic depression brought on by a contagion. By 2030, the neglected problems impacting Japan will render any notion of an offensive military force moot, unless you can eat missiles or use them as fuel.

The only thing Japan needs to defend itself from are aging politicians who act as if this is the 19th century.

Today in 2020 Germany is a normal country again with no Article 9, no restrictions, no limitations after everything they've done, in 2 different World Wars.

Germany never signed such a weakness, only Japan was willing to do it, stupid enough to cripple ourselves, to weaken our negotiation power with Russia, China, U.S. by not being able to defend ourselves, we will always be in a weak position deplomaticly, in foreign affairs, in trade deals and defending our interest, our alliances, our people.

"A full strike package including targeting satellites and electronic warfare components would, however, be far more expensive and take more than 10 years to acquire.

The US already has all of that in place. Just as with the UK, Japan only has to buy the missiles and whatever goes on the ships and subs that launch them.

Today in 2020 Germany is a normal country again with no Article 9, no restrictions, no limitations after everything they've done, in 2 different World Wars.

Germany has repeatedly sent top military officers to the scenes of its worst atrocities and made sincere apologies to the victim nations, lay wreaths and otherwise make physical gestures of remorse for their WWII conduct. They still come to ceremonies commemorating their defeat in WWII. Japan has not done this and as a result her neighbors do not yet trust her to the degree the Germans are trusted. In addition, Germany has a viable political opposition and power changes hands from time to time between Christian Democrats and Social Democrats. Coalitions are formed and dissolved. Japan doesn't have the political give and take of Germany and other European governments.

The missile systems on offer are less than functional, but certainly expensive and manufactured in the USA.

Claiming Tomahawk is "less than functional" is a laughable statement. It is among the most successful cruise missiles ever made. Since their first use in 1991 through April 2018 just under 2200 of them have been used in combat with over 90% hitting their targets. By what standard are they "less than functional"?

Desert TortoiseToday  05:30 am JST

Today in 2020 Germany is a normal country again with no Article 9, no restrictions, no limitations after everything they've done, in 2 different World Wars.

Germany has repeatedly sent top military officers to the scenes of its worst atrocities and made sincere apologies to the victim nations, lay wreaths and otherwise make physical gestures of remorse for their WWII conduct. They still come to ceremonies commemorating their defeat in WWII. Japan has not done this and as a result her neighbors do not yet trust her to the degree the Germans are trusted.

Sorry but you are wrong. Firstly, the only "neighbors" who don't trust Japan are PRC who did not exist until 1948, and ROK who was never invaded by Japan and whose men served in the Imperial Japanese Militaries during WWII. DPRK doesn't count as they don't trust anybody. The ROC which actually fought Imperial Japan is now Taiwan. And secondly, Taiwan, along with all other Southeast Asian nations, as well as Australia, India, US, UK, EU all support Japan's steps towards increasing it's military capability. The main reasons being Japan's pacifist post war history and the alarming military rise of PRC.

What really differentiates Germany and Japan is that Germany is not surrounded by nations which make WWII history a diplomatic and political tool as China(PRC) and South Korea do.

Sorry but you are wrong. Firstly, the only "neighbors" who don't trust Japan are PRC who did not exist until 1948, and ROK who was never invaded by Japan and whose men served in the Imperial Japanese Militaries during WWII. DPRK doesn't count as they don't trust anybody.

I served in the US Pacific Fleet in the 1980s and I can state with authority none of Japan's neighbors trusted her. We certainly didn't. If you review your history a little, Japan first proposed buying the Aegis system for some proposed new destroyers in the mid 1980s, Initlally the US refused to sell Japan the system. It was very controversial. But upon reflection the US side decided that given time and determination Japan would develop its own comparable system with no ties to the US. The worry was that Japan would develop the knowledge necessary to design, test and integrate into ships such complicated systems. The US preferred those skills not be widely held and while most of us back then distrusted Japan greatly it was decided to sell Aegis systems to them feeling it was better than Japan developing those skills on their own. I knew countless officers stationed in Japan who rightly or wrongly felt the US presence was keeping Japan in line preventing them from militarizing again. When Hirohito died I vividly remember the headlines in a major Australian newspaper "LAST WWII BUTCHER DEAD". What is true right now was not true ten or twenty years ago. Xi Jinping has changed opinions about Japan as now they see Japan as threatened as them by China. In the 1980s the Chinese were sending delegations of officers to our Naval Air Stations for demonstrations of our equipment while the trade war with Japan made them the big threat outside of the USSR.

ulyssesToday  02:43 pm JST

The false logic is the one which tries to find excuses for China’s expansionist policies by blaming it on historical injustices.

I'm not trying to find excuses for anyone. I just think that anyone who believes that advocating these kinds of policies is going to make the situation any better and guarantee Japanese security is a naive idiot.

MuratafanToday  02:56 pm JST

And...yet Japan is the one with 'so many unrepentant militarists'?

Yes, it is. The government and its Nippon Kaigi cronies are riddled with them.

PaulToday  01:47 pm JST

If Japan government is serious about curtailing Chinese activities, get some ICBMs with nuclear warheads. 

That would certainly do the trick. Just watch all Chinese economic ties with Japan vanish overnight.

OssanAmericaToday  11:41 am JST

What really differentiates Germany and Japan is that Germany is not surrounded by nations which make WWII history a diplomatic and political tool as China(PRC) and South Korea do.

You don't think various LDP politicians have milked WW2 history for all the votes and cash it's worth?

I'm not trying to find excuses for anyone. I just think that anyone who believes that advocating these kinds of policies is going to make the situation any better and guarantee Japanese security is a naive idiot.

I would offer the same opinion of you sir. The only thing the CCP and in particular Xi Jinping understands is the credible threat of overwhelming force. Arming up and training hard is what kept the USSR at bay and will likewise keep CCP controlled China at bay. When your enemy is of the opinion they have no chance of beating you they do not attack. But as we have seen with Xi Jinping he is willing to take advantage of any perceived weakness to advance Chinese control. He is an evil man in an evil system of government with no respect for other nations or international law. Rolling over like a puppy for a belly rub will get stomped on like the poor people of Hong Kong are now.