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Abe sticking with goal to seek constitutional amendment on SDF by 2020

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Peace isn't important at all in the constitution, otherwise Abe wouldn't change it without orders.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

Peace isn't important at all in the constitution, otherwise Abe wouldn't change it without orders.

I wonder how the Chinese feel about Abe wanting to re-write Artivle 9.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Right move by Abe. One step forward Japan to become a truly independent country.

-11 ( +10 / -21 )

Chip Star, all peace loving people are against abolishing peace constitution.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

Schopenhauer, anti peace has nothing to do with independence. If Abe wants a independent Japan, he can do that with one statement without changing a word of the constitution.

-10 ( +5 / -15 )

Chip Star, all peace loving people are against abolishing peace constitution.

So, you're saying the Chinese are for abolishing Artivle 9. Peace-loving people don't seize reefs on the South China Sea and build heavily militarized artificial islands. Peace loving people don't engage in mass, arbitrary detentions of religious minorities. Peace loving people don't threaten truly democratic countries (Taiwan) with invasion.

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Stay the course PM Abe, stay the course. The current constitution is outdated and not working for these extremely dangerous times. Japan needs to be stronger militarily and legally, and able to come to her allies aid. PM Abe will gain the people's understanding before 2020.

-9 ( +10 / -19 )

Stay the course PM Abe, stay the course. The current constitution is outdated and not working for these extremely dangerous times

I guess I've missed all the news stories about Japan being attacked by foreign militaries and not being able to adequately defend itself. Sure seems to me the current constitution is working just fine.

Then again, I'm not from a country that started a huge conflict, got itself utterly defeated, was occupied, and couldn't write its own constitution, so maybe I don't have the correct frame of mind to properly analyze this issue.

8 ( +18 / -10 )

Japan needs to be stronger militarily and legally, and able to come to her allies aid.

Ganbare Japan, where exactly is Japan going to get the personnel and funds to build this great military?

12 ( +16 / -4 )

and able to come to her allies aid. PM Abe will gain the people's understanding before 2020.

You think the Japanese will understand sending Japanese forces to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and so on by next year? Fat chance. Gabatte.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

They need blinkers on those tanks. Having to stick his arm out for a right turn is so last century.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

A Japanese Constitution written by Japanese for Japanese.

-10 ( +8 / -18 )

And of the Japanese.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

I think with all the work the SDF has done in recent natural disasters and other rescue missions, they can hold their heads up high. I don't think there is the dislike or distrust that they used to have.

I wonder do the current active members of the SDF really want the constitution changed forcing them the "go to the aid of their allies"? I think not. I think they are quite happy in their current situation.

6 ( +10 / -4 )

Better to live as a "vassal state" of America or China in peace than be destroyed again in war as an "independent" country, but more to the point any overseas military adventure with a Japanese army would come with a high cost: retaliation in kind, making terrorism a feature of daily life in the Land of Wa.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Well Done PM Abe Well done PM. Japan will get a military that will strike fear in both Korean and China.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

Whatever. Don't care anymore. Just don't have mandatory recruitment, or put ANY kind of pressure at all on young adults to join the military.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

You think the Japanese will understand sending Japanese forces to Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Somalia, and so on by next year?

Japanese will understand sending Japanese forces to Korea to deal with Rocket Man and sending forces to China to deal with Winnie the pooh.

-5 ( +7 / -12 )

I wonder why many here criticize Japan loudly when we try to give justification to JSDF while they are silent about the build up of our neighboring countries.

0 ( +11 / -11 )

72th anniversary of the supreme law coming into force.

Supreme law? Wish that Abe actually believed this, and FOLLOWED it as well! Not to reinterpret it to mean what he wants!

2 ( +8 / -6 )

Okinawans! Be pleased. This is the first step you will be free from U.S. Forces someday and JSDF replaces U.S. Forces. We mainland Japanese are also happy when we will be free from your constant complaints which are very annoying to us.

-10 ( +6 / -16 )

CHange the constitution that will clearly say that Japan can build 1500-km cruise missile to attack China and North Korea with precision. The ASM-3 or future ASM-4 should have a range of more than 800-km to sink CHINESE AIRCRAFT CARRIERS. The Japanese Armed forces must create a ROCKET/MISSILE/SPACE force with at least 5,000 cruise missiles and must research on the use of LASERS to shoot down missiles and ships from the enemy.

Japanese JASDF must be reminded of French Maginot Line where the doctrine at that time was DEFENSE is DEFENSE. Today, the best defense is to have OFFENSIVE POWER, the right to inflict devastating power of counter-attack where the enemy is staging its attack.

Also the best defense is to have more attack submarine against China's submarine fleet for them not be able to escape to the PACIFIC.

The Supreme Law must have require the JASDF to blow or shot-down foreign warships, airplanes and submarines entering Japan territory without permission just like what the Turkish did to Russian warplanes.

When the pro-Chinese regime in the Philippines gone in 2022, equip the Philippines with enough fire-power to fight against the Chinese. Equip them with anti-submarine warfare so that Chinese Submarines will just be contained in their ports.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

alwaysspeakingwisdom, anyone who believes that Japan can send forces to China to deal with Chinese should have their head open and examined. If Japanese believed the propaganda that during the last war Japan beat China badly, they have serious problem psychologically and physiologically. Yes, Japan won some battles, but never strategically won the war.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

They need blinkers on those tanks. Having to stick his arm out for a right turn is so last century.

It does have blinkers. See the orange lights under the headlights.

The extended arm is because the crew commander is in the middle of delivering a salute.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Yes, Japan won some battles,

Face the facts. In 1940 China was beaten. Japan had control all the vital parts of China. America saved China.

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Ganbare Japan!Today  07:21 am JST

PM Abe will gain the people's understanding before 2020.

Meaning he hasn't gained their understanding yet? Well, he's got another six months, and given that the LDP have had since 1955 to make their case for constitutional revision and Abe's had since 2012, I don't rate his persuasive skills all that highly.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

alwaysspeakingwisdomToday  10:00 am JST

Face the facts. In 1940 China was beaten. Japan had control all the vital parts of China. America saved China.

Then it was pretty stupid to get into a war with America as well, wasn't it.

4 ( +10 / -6 )

Take a look at the photo at the beginning of this very article, doesn't something look strange? Yup, those are armored vehicles, not tanks.

So why is JGSDF replacing its tanks with armored vehicles? Because JGSDF can no longer afford real tanks and must do with cheaper substitutes.

This is the cold hard reality of Japanese defense in 2019. Due to ever mounting public debt and soaring elderly pension and welfare cost, Japan must cut defense spending.

This is the reason why Japan abandoned its own stealth fighter jets and missile defense while China and Korea are building those, why Japan has no SLBM while China and Korea have them; China and Korea have money, Japan doesn't.

It is too late for Japan to become a militarist nation, the government finances can't afford it and Japan's defense budget is growing at 1.5% a year vs 8% for Korea and 10% for China; Japan just can't keep up with them. So what's the point of renouncing the pacifism when Japan can't rearm anyway?

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Well Done PM Abe Well done PM. Japan will get a military that will strike fear in both Korean and China.

@alwysseakingwisdom. Have you ever served in the SDF or appplied to join? Obviousy not. I doubt that the SDF would employ you talking like that.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Changing Article 9 in time for the Olympics is a false flag.

What the heck difference does it make if it happens before or after the Olympics? Or are you one of those that jumped on the "everything for the Olympics" bandwagon and see no other future AFTER for Japan?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

SAMIT BASU said

why Japan has no SLBM while China and Korea have them; China and Korea have money, Japan doesn't.

Japan sent several rockets to the moon with the first ever HIGH-VISION (2K Resolution) in 2007 and sent rockets to far moving asteroids.

Wait for the constitution to be changed and you will see SLBM and possibly cruise missiles of more than 1000-km range.

Japan is keep on making Attack Submarines only and decommissioned them every 15 years. All of 22-strong attack submarines of Japan are brand-new and always in shape.

Japan produced 70 Kawasaki-P1 ASW planes from the scratch including engines.

The wheeled tanks or you called it "armored car" is actually a TANK DESTROYER. It has a speed of 100 km/hour.

Japan built type-10 MBT with speed of 75KPH both forward and backward movement and the only MBT in the whole world that cand do slalom (8-figure or infinity shape dancing) and still hitting moving target 1-km away.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

The current constitution is outdated and not working for these extremely dangerous times. 

There are far more pressing and outdated legislature within Japanese government but I don't see them being addressed.

But then again, Japan being no stranger to war and bringing mass-suffering to its people, the 'leaders' of Japan probably have less qualms about going into a heightened military state and/or war than I personally would...

Luckily for Ganbare Japan, he/she doesn't live in Japan so won't have to worry about the fallout when Japan paints a big X on itself again.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

Thus showing the Rei of Reiwa is exactly what we feared it is

0 ( +6 / -6 )

The current constitution is outdated and not working for these extremely dangerous times.

it's stopping the war mongers so it's doing a wonderful job.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Whatever. Don't care anymore. Just don't have mandatory recruitment, or put ANY kind of pressure at all on young adults to join the military.

A nation with a history like Japan's that still forces it's school kids to wear military style uniforms and expects military style obedience while teaching them that they are perpetual victims in history... expecting Japan to NOT pressure it's youth into joining the military is a little naive. Sorry, but it's true. It will happen. History repeating. We will see the flames of extremism fanned again if/when the constitution is changed. They know nothing else. GHQ should have done much more while it was here.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

Do you know that there are people here who both want the Constitution changed AND the Nobel Peace Prize for it being the way it is at the same time?

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Here we go again, you see people who speak apparently without having read some serious geopolitical analysis or whatever. Japan is following US Wish, this processo started with Obama and its pivot to Asia. The US more external help to contein China, that's all. This doesn't mean there's some project by Japan to invade China or Korea facepalm. Everything is according to American strategy in Asia.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

The US need* more external help, I meant.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Face the facts. In 1940 China was beaten. Japan had control all the vital parts of China. America saved China.

Sorry, but history didn't happen like you state. The facts are that the Japanese army by attacking China bit off more than it could chew. The Japanese military lacked the man power and economic resources to subdue the sleeping giant of China. As a result of Japanese aggression Mao was able to organize the Chinese resistance into a revolutionary fighting force. America actually "saved" Japan from a possible overthrow of capitalism and the imperial system. Japan "saved" China for communism.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

People bickering about the last centurie's wars and scenarios, ignore the current reality, that is WAY DIFFERENT from the one of Asia almost one century ago. China is a superpower and the Korean peninsula is half Chinese and half American. Japan is an American "ally" (more a vassal state, but whatever, call it like you want). People who say "history is repeating itself" are stuck in 1900. Japan is buying weapons from the US and acting according to American interests in Asia, stop speaking about the ghost of "Japanese imperialism". You are using this ghost conveniently to ignore the true modern dynamics in Asian geopolitics, determined by America, China and Russia.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Alex80: "People bickering about the last centurie's wars and scenarios, ignore the current reality,"

No, the true ignorance is those incredibly eager to forget, as you are.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

In the next future, I am sorry for Japan and the Korean peninsula, but the objective Truth is that BOTH of them will be in the American sphere of influence, or in the Chinese one. The true egemonic challenge in East Asia is between China and the US, people that speak like if the Korean peninsula and Japan can be free by one of these two "influences" are deluded. In particular, the bickering between Koreans and Japanese is embarassing because they share the same position in the current geopolitic scenario.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@Smith: forgetting what? Exactly because I know the past, I can tell you which are the HUGE differences with the present, unlike you. Any possible future war in East Asia will be caused by the conflictual interests between. CHINA and the US, with Japanese and North Korean actions used as possible casus belli by both the parties.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

Anyway, every time it's about these topics, you have your usual guys denying the obvious facts (American interests in Japanese foreign politics) who love to evoke Japanese imperialism ghost, despite while in the years before WWII Japan was an actual Empire and the strongest Country in Asia, today it is very weak and all its actions are made according to American interests. And while in any other news they admit the weak position of Japan, for example laughing at Abe servility towards Trump, in these news Japan becomes suddenly a powerful threat for them. Again facepalm

2 ( +7 / -5 )

"Sorry, but history didn't happen like you state. The facts are that the Japanese army by attacking China bit off more than it could chew. The Japanese military lacked the man power and economic resources to subdue the sleeping giant of China. As a result of Japanese aggression Mao was able to organize the Chinese resistance into a revolutionary fighting force. America actually "saved" Japan from a possible overthrow of capitalism and the imperial system. Japan "saved" China for communism."

Bullocks! That's your private version of "history".

As much as I don't like America, without them Japan would have totally destroyed China and take the entire Pacific.

Americans did not beat Japan alone, that's for sure. However, their industrial power won the day, not their superior soldiers, versus the Japanese ones.

China is another story; beaten in all 3 major wars they faced the Japanese; WWII would not be an exception if their buts had not been secured by biggie, the US of A.

Maybe, a bit of kiddies history will help.

https://www.histclo.com/essay/war/ww2/camp/pac/china/w2c-us.html

"America actually "saved" Japan from a possible overthrow of capitalism and the imperial system."

Certainly!

Well all know that China had enough powerful fishing junks to conduct island hoping, defeat the Japanese carriers at Midway, and blockade the sea lines bringing vital materials to Japan!

I really wanna know where you studied.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Do you know that there are people here who both want the Constitution changed AND the Nobel Peace Prize for it being the way it is at the same time?

The thing that worries me about Japan is that Japan seems o disregard it's own constitution anyway, when confronted with an unknown situation.

An example of this is Art.34 which seems to have gome out of the window over the years. (as recently observed).

Whether Art.9 is amended or not, I believe that Japan will act on impulse to any unknown crisis.

If Japan cannot control itself at home, how will Japans forces behave overseas?

I do not believe Japan is ready for any amendment of Art.9. yet.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Reading history from perspectives other than one’s own country is eye opening. You think you know but you really don’t. This goes for everyone here and that of every country.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

@zichi

The Americans who wrote the constitution made it a requirement of a two-thirds Diet vote to make amendments so probably won't happen.

However, changing the law that requires a 2/3 Diet vote is easier than changing Article 9, which does. : / J-gov ALWAYS finds loopholes.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Schopenhauer,

Okinawans! Be pleased. This is the first step you will be free from U.S. Forces someday and JSDF replaces U.S. Forces. We mainland Japanese are also happy when we will be free from your constant complaints which are very annoying to us

You seem to be bothered with Okinawa's anti-U.S. base sentiments, especially against the Henoko relocation plan, saying, "We mainland Japanese are ... happy when we will be free from your constant complaints which are very annoying to us."

Well said, but what do you think about the violent anti-U.S. base movements that stormed mainland Japan in the 1050s and 1960s? 

It's surmised naturally that because of these violent anti-U.S. base movements on mainland, some Marine contingents there, especially in Gifu and Yamanashi, had to move to Okinawa, thus increasing U.S. bases in Okinawa twice as many. 

 I clearly remember Raizo Matsuno, former General Secretary of Prime Minister's Office under the Kishi admistration, testifying this fact before the television camera. He said the central government had asked the Marines to move to Okinawa to avoid further social turmoil in Japan proper.

See also “本土の反対運動を懸念し沖縄に海兵隊移転”は本当?(Is it true Marine contingents moved to Okinawa for fear of the mainland's anti-U.S. base movements?) run on Japan in Depth (https://japan-indepth.jp/?p=42307)

How do you respond?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Long overdue.

In a world becoming more dangerous, aggressive, armed with nuclear weapons, Japan is leaving itself exposed by not being able to defend itself without the need of a foreign country who stopped your economic rise in the 80s, wants to slow down Japan's economy even now in 2019. Even though Japan's economy is weak, America wants to make it even weaker. Trump wants Japanese to be forced to buy their SUV and pickup trucks which no Japanese want to own or drive. Only you people are obsessed with your giant cars bullying other drivers on the road. Lived in the states for several years and Ive seen their behavior first hand.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

In the next future, I am sorry for Japan and the Korean peninsula, but the objective Truth is that BOTH of them will be in the American sphere of influence, or in the Chinese one. The true egemonic challenge in East Asia is between China and the US, people that speak like if the Korean peninsula and Japan can be free by one of these two "influences" are deluded. In particular, the bickering between Koreans and Japanese is embarassing because they share the same position in the current geopolitic scenario.

This is exactly how I feel. I live in Japan and I think it is sad Japan is not her own independent country in terms of international relations. Japan has no choice but to follow the US, and the Japanese I talk to say “but we lost the war and the US protects us.”

Korea is caught between the US and China but it has always been sandwiched between her stronger neighbors. Either way, these two countries will be in one sphere of influence or the other but they should have the choice of being in neither. They could use the support of each other.

If Japan and Korea were in a Japanese company, they would be considered douki 同期 entering the company in the same class or year. While there could be rivalry, douki’s have a special relationship with each other. They shouldn’t hate but instead should support one another.

The Japanese I know tend to mind their own business and not want to get involved in other’s troubles, and the Japanese government and people imo do not want to be involved with the US foreign policy. They do not want to fund US’s endeavors, not that Japan has much cash flow to do so. The Japanese should be able to live peacefully on their islands and not have to “come to the aid of her allies.”

As for the Japanese fear of war with her neighbors, Russia and China are not like the USA. The USA has gone all over the world to attack other countries, especially those with lots of oil. Examples are Iraq, Libya and Syria. Next would be Venezuela and Iran. The USA has been at war with multiple countries at a time for a long time. The USA spends a lot of money developing offensive military weapons.

Russia and China, on the other hand, are not interested in war except when it affects their borders or to help the legitimate government of a country that calls for their help. They also do not spend as much as the USA on making weapons. And most of the weapons that they make or acquire are for defensive purposes.

So if Japan wants to wait for Russia and China to attack them and fret about it by all means wait. But it is going to be a very long wait.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Guys, all of you, stand or fly in the Tundra of Siberia or northern China and think deeply how will you go to the Pacific with Japanese Archipelago and Philippine Archipelago stretching from Kuril islands to Northern Borneo. Both are small countries in terms of land areas but very long-stretched when it comes to maritime areas.

The West Philippine areas are now being filled with man-made island fortresses.

So for countries like China, NK, Russia and even SK, the only problem is Japan.

These countries want Japan to be weakened.

Here is the Air Defense RADAR of Japan. (Same with Underwater anti-submarine sensors all over the Japanese archipelago maritime waters territory and EEZ):

http://jsw.newpacificinstitute.org/?p=4011

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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