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Japan's defense buildup shouldn't be seen as threat: U.S. official

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Then why China cannot do the same to step up her arsenals?

Because China is NOT a vassal state like Japan or South Korea, Australia ?

China is world second economy and heading to be No.1 in 10 or 20,30 years, a big industry power will result a big military just like when US takeover the British Empire after WW1.

-4 ( +9 / -13 )

@Gaijin: Pre-emptive strike capability was a myth. For small countries they will be revenge harshly and suffering a loss than will take decades of rebuilding.

Germany during Hitler's era launched a pre-emptive strike on USSR resulted in a total defeat and the occupation of eastern Germany. The Soviet Union has great capacity of recovering and fight back.

America is pushing Japan to sit on a danger zone by misleading them with the myth of pre-emptive strikes !

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

Japan should fully remilitarize and go back to its former glorious days

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Of course it's not a threat. Japan's massive arms buildup is a sign of how much they love and trust their neighbours. (Sarcasm)

3 ( +10 / -7 )

Then why China cannot do the same to step up her arsenals?

China has been vastly increasing their military spending and capabilities for the last 20 yrs. It only makes since for nations near China to do the same, especially as China becomes more and more belligerent in the region, acting with force in the air, on the sea, and around Taiwan, a sovereign country.

America cannot force another country to do anything they won't want. Same for China. There is always a choice.

There is no risk that America will invade Japan over any disagreement that I can imagine happening.

Cannot say the same for China.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Expanding armament is always threat for neighbouring countries even if wherever that is, and though it promote military tension but never ease it.

Japan had increased military budget since 2012 but situation isn't improved, seems to depend on "more strong medicine" this time.

And, rapid arms race policy of country where had reduced welfare on the excuse of financial is clearly threat against social security.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Japan's defense buildup shouldn't be seen as threat

That's just silly on its face. Of course weapons are a threat.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

ZorotoToday  09:16 am JST

There is no risk that America will invade Japan over any disagreement that I can imagine happening

Cannot say the same for China

The only country of the ones you mentioned that ever invaded Japan is not China. So I wouldn't be so sure.

Incorrect. The Yuan Dynasty tried to invade Japan twice in the 1200s. They failed both times.

1 ( +8 / -7 )

Yes of course we should all faithfully believe in and take at face value what a State Department spokesman has to say about such matters lol...if any thing this just casts even more of a shadow over recent actions done in the name of a "Free and open Indo-Pacific," for example the US warship that sailed through the Taiwan Strait.

It is clearly the US who is antagonizing China and building up tension in the region, which then causes NK to feverishly test new deterrents vis a vis the one week 24/7 attack drills held by the US and their other lapdog South Korea recently..

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

@elephant200

I think you need to brush up on your history there.

“China is world second economy and heading to be No.1 in 10 or 20,30 years, a big industry power will result a big military just like when US takeover the British Empire after WW1.”

You sure about all of that? China already has the world’s largest standing army. Unfortunately for China, quantity doesn’t always equal quality. Anyway about the US, British Empire, WW1, blah blah blah… you’re thinking of WW2 and even that part you got wrong.

I love how you guys are anti China when it comes to Covid but if there is any mention of the US-Japan military alliance then Japan is a “vassal state” and China is the victim.

-1 ( +7 / -8 )

It is clearly the US who is antagonizing China and building up tension in the region,

The reality is that it is China antagonizing the region and the nations in the region. Nobody else is raising tensions. The US is doing nothing different today to what has been going on since the end of WWII when it defended and saved China. Sailing in the same waters it always has. The difference is China now claims ownership of international waters, other nations EEZ area's and has built up its military and fishing militia to get its way in the region at the expense of others. It now complains about anyone objecting to its illegal and unsupportable claims. China is the problem and until it realizes that it will continue to destabilize the region.

China has initiated an arms buildup forcing others to do likewise. Japan has been forced by China to modernize its forces and to add new capabilities to match others in the region and maintain a credible defense against surrounding neighbors who have more options and more powerful weapons than Japan has.

Preemptive strike capabilities is what they are acquiring !

Many seem to think Japan will use new capabilities to strike first, but who would they strike? Perhaps a nuclear weapon armed state? I dont see anyone foolish enough to do that, even Japanese leaders. Who else? Singapore or the Philippines? No, they are friends. Not South Korea, they are joined by their alliance with the US. So just who would Japan attack with long range conventional missiles to start a war? Nobody, thats who. They are to be able to strike back after already being attacked, without needing to send warships or aircraft into harms way, and in a much faster response to being attacked than they can provide without them.

Japans defense is no threat to anyone, with the exception of someone planning to attack Japan at some point. They may object to Japan being able to easily return fire, making an attack on Japan more dangerous than it already is. Interesting to see just who complains, as they give away their future intentions.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

I love how you guys are anti China when it comes to Covid but if there is any mention of the US-Japan military alliance then Japan is a “vassal state” and China is the victim.

Fair point. The majority of COVID infections exist in Japan, US and South Korea, so it is fair to say that these countries are keeping COVID alive, and bear the main responsibility for the COVID burden worldwide.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

I would love to see the United States Military finally depart from Japan once and for all! Japan now has the capability to defend itself. Same goes for all the other 300+ bases the U.S has overseas.

Good for Japan to build up its own military and now the question will be at some point do they have enough people to serve and if not should they require mandatory enlistments like Korea does.

2 ( +8 / -6 )

The US sounds like a bad used car salesman here.

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Every nation in the Asian region who believes in freedom and democracy has nothing to worry about.

Japan absolutely has the right to pre-emptive attacks as every other nation does. Having three very aggressive, very threatening neighbors has necessitated Japans military spending increases. And no one can question this - unless they are hypocrites.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

I fondly remember Clinton being the only president in my lifetime to cut the Pentagon budget. It was around $250 billion back then. Now it has ballooned to over $800 billion per year in the US even thought there are so many other social needs (or simply choose to pay down the debt). Japan should not follow the same foolhardy choice.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

Of course, as long as the profits keep coming.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

You do realize Russia and China are both Asia and types of Democracies ? they believe in freedom also,

Fascist Russia and Communist China are "types of democracies" who "believe in freedom". Comedy gold.

What are you smoking?

9 ( +12 / -3 )

@Peter14

The US is doing nothing different today to what has been going on since the end of WWII when it defended and saved China.

Thank you for clarifying yet again type of information your view is based on.

The US funneled massive amounts of money and weapons to Chiang Kai shek (which contributed to the outbreak of civil war), who attained his position by working with the Green Gang, Shanghai based mafia. Leading a lavish lifestyle esconced in a palatial mansion and despite having US weaponry, Chiang then lost the battle for China to Mao, who had been living in a cave.

So yes the US is doing exactly what it did in China, that is provoking unrest and conflict by encouraging and supplying arms to people they count on to further US interests.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

The US funneled massive amounts of money and weapons to Chiang Kai shek (which contributed to the outbreak of civil war)

Assisting the legitimate and recognized government of China. How shameful that America would assist China.

So yes the US is doing exactly what it did in China, that is provoking unrest and conflict by encouraging and supplying arms to people they count on to further US interests.

No the US is assisting those who ask for it and those working for the same democratic goals. China is the one rising tensions and creating conflict in the region because it thinks it has a destiny to be in charge of those around them. It doesn't.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

The US bases aren’t leaving Japan anytime soon. At least not in our lifetime. Okinawa is poor enough as it is and the bases are the only thing propping that prefecture up. Tokyo is more than happy with the status quo of letting the Americans run the islands.

So the US has troops stationed in bases around the world. So what? The host countries can decide to kick the US out anytime they want. They are paying the US to be there. Look what happened to the Philippines in the early 90’s. They kicked the US and then decided that was a bad move and invited them back.

Non of these host countries are vassal states. I don’t think the US is the “overlord” here but if I were a politician in Asia, I’d rather have the US as my friendly neighbor.

4 ( +9 / -5 )

People who say countries can kick out the US bases anytime they want are living in some fantasy world detached from the realities of geopolitics.

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

Increasing the defence budget is great news, especially for the economy of our ally, the peace loving nation of the USA. God bless America.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

@Peter14

No the US is assisting those who ask for it and those working for the same democratic goals. China is the one rising tensions and creating conflict in the region because it thinks it has a destiny to be in charge of those around them. It doesn't.

In addition to not knowing much about the realities of China's history you obviously have have no awareness of the huge civilian demonstrations which called for the ousting of US bases both in Japan as South Korea.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

In addition to not knowing much about the realities of China's history you obviously have have no awareness of the huge civilian demonstrations which called for the ousting of US bases both in Japan as South Korea.

The history I learnt was not written and dictated by the CCP. I hold that to be a definite plus.

As for vocal minorities that object to US bases, I am aware of them but would not describe them as "huge". I know of objections in my own country to our own military bases, by the nearest towns to those bases. I call that a fairly normal situation that would be more pronounced if those bases were for a foreign nation. Many people do not like the military period.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

moonbloomToday  04:07 pm JST

People who say countries can kick out the US bases anytime they want are living in some fantasy world detached from the realities of geopolitics.

People who make comments like this have never read the actual treaties which contain termination clauses by either party. In fact, with the exception of the PI, all closures and reductions of US overseas bases have been instigated by the United States. In the case of the Philipines, they asked the US to come back. Additionally, many US overseas bases are shared with allies, both in and out of the host country.

US bases in other countries exist because the host nation wants them, and both nations mutually benefit.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

A number of people mention "democratic goals." It seems that that word has various interpretations. Do you realise that North Korea is actually the "People's Democratic Republic of Korea?"

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Talk about hypocrisy. Japan's defense spending, defense build up, etc, is like your defense build up, its like any country's defense build up, not just your allies' defense build up, is sovereign decision.

Now, he is claiming only ours and our friends' defense build up is not a threat, only our foes' defense build up is a threat??? Expressing unhappiness is difference from saying its a threat.

Now, you know why, integrity is a fat ZERO.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Do you realise that North Korea is actually the "People's Democratic Republic of Korea?"

How often do they hold public elections for new leaders? How many political parties are registered in North Korea?

Having "democratic" in your name does not mean you practice democracy. NK and China are both excellent examples of one party rule. Autocrats are not democratic. leaders for life is not a democratic system.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Japan's national power ranking dropped again in 2023.

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php

1) United States

2) Russia

3) China

4) India

5) United Kingdom

6) South Korea

7) Pakistan

8) Japan

9) France

10) Italy

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/rankings/power

1) United States

2) China

3) Russa

4) Germany

5) United Kingdom

6) South Korea

7) France

8) Japan

9) United Arab Emirates

10) Israel

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Samit BasuToday  04:57 am JST

Japan's national power ranking dropped again in 2023.

Nothing to do with this article.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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