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Japan airs strong concern about China's military buildup

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Knew this was coming.

Expect a more intense buildup and campaign from now.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

Maybe Japan should mind its own business.

-30 ( +12 / -42 )

The longer China go about unchallenged, the more time it has to build its military capability. China is not a trustworthy of the international communuty, it is a growing threat to peace and prosoerity all over the world.

7 ( +18 / -11 )

@Sh1mon M4sada

I agree that China should be challenged, but whose fault is it that China is so powerful. today?

Western companies and Japan have spent decades propping up China - offshoring and outsourcing to China, buying Chinese parts, doing business with non-Chinese companies that have a major presence in China. Hell, just look at how Toyota is begging the Chinese for LFP batteries.

If you want to deal with China effectively, you need to boycott the entire country. That means never buy Chinese products, never buying any parts from China, never doing any kind of business whatsoever with China.

Can the US and Japan do that? I don't think so. There are too many political and business interests in working with China.

3 ( +22 / -19 )

"There should be more transparency in China's defense spending and policy as well as its military power, given that its expenditure has been increasing at a high rate and for an extended period," Japan's top government spokesman Hirokazu Matsuno told a press briefing.

Clearly China is building up its military. Yet, other countries, especially the US, exhibit very little transparency about military budgets.

-2 ( +12 / -14 )

With constant military provocations by the most heavily armed and demonstratedly dangerous cadre of greed-driven Corporate psychopaths in HISTORY, the United States, what should China do? And, with Japanese politicians pushing for Japan to become a nuclear arsenal (and target) against China for these psychopaths, what should China's attitude toward Japan be? And, if Japan would see fewer 'incursions' by China, perhaps suggesting the U.S. commit fewer provocations in what is to China the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean to the United States, although almost certainly falling on deaf ears, at least would be a call for sanity. Regarding Taiwan, the status quo has held for 77 years with the ONLY voice raising alarms being the U.S.'. Taiwan and the PRC will work out their own solution in time and should be left alone but, then, Taiwan would not contribute to the obscene profits of American weapons cartels. And propagandistic stories like this only serve to frighten and to weaken the memories of what has happened to a militaristic Japanese People in the past and their commitment to Peace. WASUREINAI, YO!

-8 ( +10 / -18 )

@William Bjornson

Yeah, I'm sure a world controlled by China would be better than one led by the US.

There is no doubt that the US is being aggressive towards China and Russia, but that is to ensure those 2 countries are kept in check.

What I disagree with is the US' approach to dealing with China. I'm skeptical that the US will succeed in the end and we may end up with 2 world powers (Thanks, corporate America).

-20 ( +7 / -27 )

China, North Korea and Russia are the biggest threat for world piece.

Their leaders do not hesitate to kill thousands of innocent people, including women and children.

I always said that for years.

And now you can see the first proof for that in the Ukraine.

Let's wait and see how far China will go with Taiwan, if the world do not stop Russia's agression in the Ukraine.

5 ( +16 / -11 )

Another day, another turn of the manufacturing consent for war ratchet.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

Because the USA is perceived as a lesser power than it once was and China (and pre-Ukraine War Russia), expect things to be shaken up as the strong newcomers challenge the champion.

Also, this is Autocracy versus Democracy. Free and peaceful nations have been squashed and others, like Ukraine now, are being threatened of being squashed.

The free nations of the world helped to pull these autocracies like China and Russia out of their backwardness by helping their economies develop in various ways. They have prospered enormously, especially those at the top. We benefited too with all of that good cheap stuff.

Ah, how soon we forget! Now these same autocracies with their enormous wealth are creeping back into their old ways. Genocide, human rights abuses and making war are how they say: Thank you! We’re now too big to fail and you’d better keep doing business with us because we have nuclear weapons. So take that!

It’s time for the free countries to take a stand and to do more business between ourselves. The price to join our group should be improved human rights, zero genocide and making peace, not war.

9 ( +12 / -3 )

China is going to be a real tricky one in the near future. So, the West should take these three countries out now so that we can all have peace as soon as possible. Clean the slop from Earth.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

China is not a security threat as its military and weapons spending is dwarfed by the US and it has never gone round the world subjugating other countries, invading and colonizing them. But it is a financial threat to the US and that is why the US is using every trick in the book to bring China down. The US is not capable of living in a world where other countries do well AND not be its lapdog. US is not capable of being cooperative unless other countries are wrapped round its fingers. What it is capable of doing is start wars using lies and so-called "revolutions". We've seen it in Taiwan, Ukraine, Libya, Myanmar, Thailand, Hong Kong. It has not been sanctioned for the illegal invasion of Iraq and the killing of millions of innocent people in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere. And still, it is backing the killing of innocent people in Yemen. And US has no qualms about stabbing its friends in the back. 20 years in Afghanistan and what was the result?

-3 ( +12 / -15 )

There are parts of Taiwanese territory that is a mere 1750 meters from mainland and has remained Taiwan’s. Both sides are more interested in trade and investments than becoming US military projects. Those who realize this know this not from reading articles but from working in the various related fields. The military build up in China is just geared towards the US and to defend China’s Gulf of Mexico as someone puts it. Every change in leadership will have jets flying to serve as reminders but business continues.

Taiwanese businessmen are doing very well in China. Relations with China is seen more through business and economics than military strategy for the elites in Taiwan. The status quo benefits both sides. Without military conflicts the two sides will inevitably become closer and closer.

The way to keep China in check is not through Taiwan but India. India already enjoys a good relationship with Russia. A Sino-Indo partnership will further reduce the dollar dependence as seen between Russia and China. This is surely a concern for the US and the US must keep countries using the dollar as much as possible from its point of view.

There is incredible technology cooperation discussions among Taiwan, China and India. The combine market of 3 billion is one but China will be rapidly catching up to the West in the next decade or so. India has a front seat to this progress and will have a chance to begin its own bottoms up approach. When China goes for 7 nm, India could go for 50 nm and when China goes for 3 nm, India could go for 28 nm and so on. This cannot happen even if Taiwan spent the rest of its life in India. These are the matters the leading sectors are discussing mean and while the US keeps trying to sell planes.

The US is like the Girl Scout selling cookies in the neighborhood that you’ve bought already but who keeps coming around. It would be more in the US interest to keep India from falling under and forming an alliance with Russia, China, and Iran than begging China and Taiwan to start a conflict.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

@quercetum

There is incredible technology cooperation discussions among Taiwan, China and India. The combine market of 3 billion is one but China will be rapidly catching up to the West in the next decade or so. India has a front seat to this progress and will have a chance to begin its own bottoms up approach. When China goes for 7 nm, India could go for 50 nm and when China goes for 3 nm, India could go for 28 nm and so on. This cannot happen even if Taiwan spent the rest of its life in India. These are the matters the leading sectors are discussing mean and while the US keeps trying to sell planes.

I said something similar months ago, but of course it got downvoted by the denialists on this site.

With such a large market in India and China, they could have unbelievable economies of scale if they got their act together. This doesn't have to be only microchips either. I believe a lot of technology manufacturing will go the way of modern-day chip fabrication, with the most advanced and efficient processes enjoying immense market share and profit margins while the others will be lucky to break even. I see this with the upcoming EV, where Tesla is 10+ years ahead of the competition and is the only one that can manufacture an EV profitably. Everyone else is dragging their feet on converting to EVs while running non-stop to catch up to Tesla.

Having a large and nationalistic population allows China and India more leeway with process screw ups. Fixed costs of fabs will be amortized over far more customers, allowing China and India to succeed even if they have a worse process. It's very concerning from America and Japan's viewpoint.

Right now, the US can continue importing the smartest people in the world. It remains to be seen if China's population can beat the brightest minds across the world.

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

I think having a US presence in the area is good for Taiwan and Japan. If there wasn't a US military force, then Taiwan would have already been captured, along with the whole Okinawan island chain.

And before you disparage this idea, look here:

https://www.dw.com/en/japan-angered-by-chinas-claim-to-all-of-okinawa/a-16803117

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3127810/us-analyst-claims-china-backing-okinawa-independence-movement

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

As Japan should be! I agreed with Abe’s intent to change article 13 of the Japanese Constitution.

while I’m anti-war…. Every country needs to atleast have a strong coast guard and strike fear into the neighbor bullies like N.Korea, China and Russia. Time to change from a pacifist country!

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Japan on Monday urged China to be more transparent in its growing defense spending, saying its rapid military buildup and increased activities at sea and in the air are a "strong concern."

As if the Chinese would tell the Japanese “their” adversary as to what their military plans and buildup is. All I can say is a Japanese better be prepared and prepared quickly because if anything close to a war breaks out in this country, I don’t think the masses would have the stomach or even capability of staging a counter offense, it just wouldn’t happen and this has been an issue that has bothered me for many years, the Japanese rely too much on America and not enough on building up their self defense and building up their military and teaching their people how serious war can be. The South Koreans on the other hand are tough as nails and ready and would want to lead a fight and would want the US to be a back up, similar to the Ukrainians, Japan is nowhere near that, they got too comfortable with America protecting it and I think that relationship should be greatly revised.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

How about to just be friends? Unless we are an ATM puppet for some country.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I don't agree with the invasion, but I understand why Putin made the decision.

Oh, I understand as well. A lot of people don’t they didn’t pay attention to the signs.

There's nothing we can do about it. Nobody is willing to take a hard stance on China because it would hurt their wallets.

To a point you’re right, but there’s even a limit to that arrangement. All the more reason to get out of China‘a back pocket.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Japan airs strong concern about China's military buildup:

Why the strong concern?

Has japan not been boosting up its naval prowess in the past few years, purchasing the state-of-the-art weapons from US?

Go on, keep the arms race alive, be prepared for any catastrophic outcome..

0 ( +5 / -5 )

There is a build up to plan devised long long ago now starting to bear fruition.

China & Russia want to be come the world leader economically, militarily, strategically.

Ukraine is just the start of it. If it walks like a duck. Quacks like a duck. Well then. Trust your instincts.

China would invade Japans side of Asia including the Philippians with its war machine. Already in trade and information wars.

The sleeping giant must awake. I am not going to say Joe Biden is doing a bad job. These sanctions imposed on Russia is going to seriously damage the country fiscally. But I want to say this. All this started even way before Obama, Busch, Regan even, All you need to do is look at China and Russia's past. Great wisdom lies in history. Democracy existence is on life support. And American voters are squarely to blame. My country is so busy arguing with each other for so long. It has allowed its enemies to creep right up to front door and make a serious effort to take over even my ability to write this post.

How to advert the world from being spit in half? Its pretty self explanatory. History shows us what to do.

Now we need a leader with the fortitude and scrappy ness to go blow for blow with the new China-Russian world order. And yes. Nuclear war is a real possibility. Russia does not want that either. Even if you take Putin out.

Someone worse will step in with bigger ambition.

This plan was devised in China sometime ago. You can depend on this...Since the Ming dynasty China has been hell bent on taking the entire world with Russia next to them.

For Russia. Not long after.

Welcome to the new global cold war. And we have new nuclear players on the chess board.

-5 ( +1 / -6 )

Has japan not been boosting up its naval prowess in the past few years, purchasing the state-of-the-art weapons from US?

At the cost of our pension, childcare, not joining the Belt and Road…

US weapons are very expensive and can’t stop chinas supersonic nuclear warheads.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Yup we’re going in WWIII. Time to do PT.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Putin visited Beijing during the Olympics and the two leaders have made some sort of an agreement. The West will be confronted with two simultaneous battle fronts and they will be confused as to which to help that will lead them to do absolutely nothing but to impose sanctions.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Time for Japan to increase its military spending by 10% to partially keep up with China. Failure to do so will increase the already huge gap between the two nations. When china presses the "go" button, Japan better have enough to defend itself and to hit back.

Ukraine unable to hit back at Russia shows it is completely at it's mercy. The US can do it but Japan needs to increase the ability to strike back at china to increase deterrence. Time for missile's capable of launch from Japan to hit anywhere in North Korea and China. A bully that knows he wont get hit back, stays a bully. A bully that knows he will be hurt if he does something chooses another path.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

The US can do it but Japan needs to increase the ability to strike back at china to increase deterrence. Time for missile's capable of launch from Japan to hit anywhere in North Korea and China.

My god you sound mad. China has already declared that Japan will be hit with nukes if China is attacked. So we can nuke’em back? They don’t need to be in Japan for that to happen. The planets a wasteland after that anyway so why walk closer to the edge when we should be walking back from it?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

You can't expect transparency from a Communist dictatorship. Especially not from one that has muscles it wants to flex and old scores to settle. Better get better prepared because this new norm is THE norm.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

My god you sound mad. China has already declared that Japan will be hit with nukes if China is attacked. So we can nuke’em back?

Actually, You sound mad making stuff up. China has declared a non first use of Nuclear weapons, as you should know. Look it up.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3153387/china-backs-no-first-use-nuclear-policy-calls-nations-cut

If China attacks Japan you advocate no right or ability to hit them back? I call that madness. And very like what a CCP member would want and say.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Its is unfortunate what China is doing. If the rest of the Pacific Rim nations want to have a chance at staying independent and free, they will have to match Xi's military spending

I imagine that Ukraine wishes they had spent a lot more on military preparedness, before Putin attacked.

The Russians look strong only because Ukraine is so weak in comparison.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Why CCP would need to militarily attack Japan if they can get the same just turning on their money printer.

Thanks to the idiots at the Ministry of Economics that left Japan more than 30 years in deflation.

Japan is cheap !

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

With this crazy world we live in... Japan needs their own nuclear weapons to protect itself especially when we're surrounded by Russia, PRC, and North Korea...

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Japan on Monday urged China to be more transparent in its growing defense spending, saying its rapid military buildup and increased activities at sea and in the air are a "strong concern."

How much more do you want China to be transparent before you wake up???

They already made it clear they want to use force if necessary. Spending over %7 on the military. Already 6x times Japan's military budget in 2022.

Even the Germans are spending triple digits overnight, regret being weak and pathetic against Russia.

China is 10x more dangerous. Stronger.

What else does China, Russia and North Korea need to do before the government in Japan wakes up?????

Even South Korea is trying to get Nukes. How pathetic and behind do you want Japan to be???? LDP should ask themselves this question.

Ukraine waited and waited, all the signs of clear Russian aggression all the way in 2014 with Crimea. Now Ukraine, it's people, it's towns and cities, are targets to be destroyed and exterminated depending on how Russians feel that day. Ukraine is at the mercy of Russia. Wait and see how many people will die!

Those Ukrainian people dying and fighting, not prepared enough against Russia..... That's Japan in 2025 or 2027.

Ukraine, Completely unprepared, sleeping, thinking USA agreements will do much. Ukraine had agreements with USA/Russia too, what happened to that??? Toilet paper now.

Please don't let Japan be in this position. Don't let Japan be unprepared, weak, pathetic, a target for stronger Nations Militarily. The consequences of that will be paid by Japan and Japanese citizen's!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

America and her colonies has caused alot of tragedies to the world since the collapse of Soviet Union, it is time to find a new superpower to stop her erratic policies that brought the world to hostilities like now. CHINA is doing the right thing to step up her defence budget to balance the turbulent world!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

It was a terrific achievement for China to maintain a growth rate of 7% after ensuring America's trade war and other sanctions that implied by the Trump administration.

When dealing with the thug group or better known as "QUAD", China is doing her best to make sure her sovereign of land, the sea,the air and the space were guarded with essential power. We should know it was the western imperial power owed China, putting the Chinese people's living in tragedies since the opium war until the Korean war,a whole period of 111 years(1839-1950). It is right to get back what they owed us!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

When was the last time China started an illegal war, unlike the rogue state of the USA who have been at war somewhere in the world for over 150 years and their economy depends on it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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