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© Thomson Reuters 2024.Election shock in key U.S. ally Japan could embolden China, other rivals
By Tim Kelly TOKYO©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
26 Comments
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Fos
Time to embrace real ethical values. I think these elections were a clear signal: Japanese people want to decouple from Washington since the Asian country is loosing moral and social ground by being a close ally with the past and present US administrations. Especially after the support of Israel's mess in the Middle East
Legrande
Now, potential power-sharing deals between the LDP and smaller parties, that won over many voters with promises of tax cuts, will further complicate the thorny issue of how Japan funds key defense projects, according to Tobias Harris of Japan Foresight, a political risk advisory.
"The kind of governments coming out of this are not going to be able to raise taxes," he said.
Oh the grief, the govt is going to have difficulty raising taxes to fund military programs that engender a regional arms race.
Desert Tortoise
The results of the election in Japan reflect domestic concerns. You are delusional to think it means the Japanese want a different relationship with the US. They don't. The Japanese wand different domestic policies.
Fos
I know I am too optimistic hoping to put a stop to the wars fought by Washington, but I am glad about the election results. Now Tokyo politicians need to understand that before pleasing the US arms industry, Japanese citizens come first
isabelle
Yes, a few more bumps may appear in the road now, but I believe the security environment Japan faces is crystal clear to all.
All parties can see the massive threat that China in particular poses, and they are highly unlikely to de-prioritize the defense program.
isabelle
And I think this is a ludicrous conclusion. What evidence do you have for this?
Washington isn't fighting any wars around here.
The aggression here is caused by China, and to a lesser extent North Korea and Russia.
They do. And that's precisely why the Japanese government wants to protect them from Chinese/North Korean/Russian aggression.
deanzaZZR
Slow news day apparently ...
TaiwanIsNotChina
Literally not a position of any major party.
Still Putin's War.
Fos
Japanese citizens are finally waking up: the outcome of the election is clear and need to be interpreted as a more resolute action, for politicians to prioritize social issues on a national level, and less need of expenditures for US costly military equipments. Big profits for American corporations don’t necessarily translate into more security, pretty much the opposite, causing instability in the area. The Middle East is the most significant warning.
Japan and China need more dialogue and transparency as neighbors countries.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Japanese citizens are finally waking up: they are unwilling to take anymore of China/Russia BS.
See? I can make stuff up, too.
Fos
“But with Japan's defense buildup more than half complete, the LDP also needs to begin discussing Japan's next defense strategy and how much more it needs to spend….”
Ah ah ah, that is the best quote ever from the the U.S. State Department. Evidence of what we were saying about the sheer hypocrisy: to antagonize China to preserve their own economic interests.
iron man
Washington is not fighting any wars in asia? Maybe just boosting their economy by setting up proxy nations to take any pain from their never ending economic tariffs? The election is one domestic signal, but which factor will determine the economy in the future, domestic or international interference, leave it to you guys and gals, I seen it before.
Fos
Washington is trying to shift the ordinary folks attention to Asia on "alleged China aggressive behavior", while signing billions of dollars agreement in arms sales to Taiwan, not to let ordinary folks seeing the death and destruction in the Middle East and Ukraine they caused, and that are still financing. It is called "The dead cat strategy"
elephant200
Japan is always a US vassal state with a puppet govt. Known as L.D.P. Nothing has changed from Chinese,Russian and North Korean perspective !
TaiwanIsNotChina
There is nothing alleged about China's exercises around Taiwan.
Blackstar
"With the U.S. divided it helps to have a stable Japan."
There are few countries more stable than Japan. New faces in power clearly wouldn't change that. The author apparently favors deeply conservative governments (as opposed to the "somewhat conservative" leadership an anti-LDP government would almost certainly constitute).
Five Families
As someone in a position of knowledge about the National security of Japan and US forces stationed in Okinawa, Mainland and all of Korea. Anyone here who spoke on having the US just leave.
I really do not think you understand the consequences of what abandonment actions would have on the region. Just leave?
It would be disastrous on epic levels. Chinese aggression is a very real and clear threat. Such a present and enormous threat just all on its own. Even with the current assets and forces currently in the region in an allied fashion. Matter of fact or to be precises. Its not enough. I am sure of that.
Every simulation has it with the same out come everytime.
A great Naval battle would ensue and would immediately ensue. Okinawa would take the brunt of it at first.
With no defense but a handful of war ships in the Japanese Navy? No nuclear deterrent? Japan’s defense efforts would be swept aside so fast. And then if diplomacy failed. The thought of what would come next is unimaginable.
@Ironman
Washington is not fighting any wars in asia?
Japan and Korea with the help of the U.S. is fighting and deeply entrenched economic and cyber war every day with China. Everyday. Day in day out. It is a serious tireing battle. China wants Japan and Korea on it's knees.
Fos
This is getting hilarious by the minute with these contributions :)
The only result of a major presence of United States in the Asia Pacific is the continuous antagonizing the main country, China, which belongs to the continent. To be clear USA does not belong here: only the interests of the American corporations do, which is legitimate, but they don’t need to decide the destiny of one or more countries. With due respect, Asia does not need geopolitical tension or another war like those ones waged in Europe and in the Middle East.
Washington does not have any moral authority to do so and the result of elections was quite clear. Japanese citizens want their government to focus on national social issues and not arms expenditures from Washington.
Fos
The idea that China is a threat to Japan or the continent is totally made up if you look at the numbers:
The US spends 43% of global military spending
More than the next 26 countries combined, 25 of whom are allies.
These are data that you can find in the SIPRI Military Expenditure Database, not obscures websites, to make your own opinion for a more peaceful world
Savio
As matter of fact it is difficult, next to unfathomable, to imagine United States of America bringing peace and prosperity to the Asian continent. Just in the last two weeks we have witnesses a string of arms orders finalized hastily by the U.S. administration to Japan (just before the general elections), and lately to Australia and Taiwan, for a total of over 7 billion dollars. Not a single attempt for diplomacy or cooperation with Beijing over alleged disputes on South China Sea.
All these business were taking place while shipping weapons to Israel to support the IDF operations in the Middle East despite the dire situation in Gaza and Lebanon.
Here is a recap of US deals in Asia while accusing China of threatening neighbor countries.
Oct 19th and 26th
Total order of $450 millions in Japan
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-state-department-oks-possible-sale-aerial-targets-japan-2024-10-25/
https://www.reuters.com/world/us-state-department-approves-sale-tactical-missiles-japan-360-million-2024-10-18/
Oct 21st
$4,7 billions in Australia
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-says-47-bln-long-range-missile-deal-boost-deterrence-2024-10-21/
Oct 25th
$2 billions in Taiwan
https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-approves-potential-2-billion-arms-sale-taiwan-week-after-chinese-war-games-2024-10-26/
TaiwanIsNotChina
Arms deals in the Asia-Pacific region restore the military balance and peace. Israel isn't relevant.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Only the frantic attempt to gaslight away from the obvious is hilarious.
Taiwan's existence is not a provocation.
Fiction that foreign affairs was the deciding factor will be corrected.
Japan is not the US. The former has no nuclear deterrent.
It's good to be the main supplier of your allies and to have a lot of allies. Efficiency comes in bulk.
The data from your beloved SIPRI says that the US spends 3.5% of gdp on defense and Japan 1.1%.
Desert Tortoise
Japan would not be as prosperous as it is had the US not been so generous to its former enemies after WWII. The US helped Japan rebuild from that war and relieved it of the need to spend its significant resources on defense. The US could have just left Japan in ruins and walked away. Is that what some here would have preferred?
Fos
United States of America used two atomic bombs in Japan, do not ever forget that.
And after occupying the country, the only reason the US administration stayed in Japan was for their own economic returns. Same as now: they use Tokyo as a main barrier to try to keep their hegemony against Cina in Asia. All these arms deals in the region speak loud and clear. The continent would be a more peaceful and prosper place without their frightening presence.
TaiwanIsNotChina
Nobody is forgetting that. Nor should they forget what the IJA was like in WW2.
Peking is the new threat that has everyone worried.
DanteKH
What's so shocking about election results in Japan?!?
The Japanese people have spoken.
It would have been a shock to keep voting for the same incompetent over and over again, and expect a different result.
People are tired of constant reduction in living standards, weak cureency, real salary level going down year by year, etc, etc.
External politics are also very important for Japan, but the people here don't want to see the country being drag anymore into the global political agenda. Just look at how good the USA, China and India are profiting after the wars and sanctions.