Japan could freeze all Myanmar aid, foreign minister warns

Go ahead. I Triple-Dog-Dare you to do it, Japan! (i.e. I'll believe it when I see it).

Japan needs all these autocrat-run Asian countries' markets, now and into the future, way more than they need Japan. That's just the reality of the situation. Meanwhile, China's perfectly fine calling this coup a "cabinet reshuffling" to keep markets closed by Japan open to its own brands and cheaper knockoffs...so yeah, not expecting much more than verbal threats.

FINALLY, FINALLY they are doing something to save innocent, brave lives who only want democracy.

No, they haven't done anything, it's just talk at the moment, a declaration that they will "kento" it. I'll believe it when I see it, and I certainly will not be holding my breath.

Japan's relationship with Myanmar is a national embarrassment. It is a right-wing driven concept, a relic of World War II - Japan's last sole, dominant foothold in Asia, all thanks to the pariah state that others find to odious to deal with. I've had enough Myanmarese students here in Japan to have learned how odious they find their own government. I don't want Japan to experience the same mistakes my own government, the US, has made and not withdraw support for a genocidal government until its too late and the whole country exposes your culpability.

FINALLY, FINALLY they are doing something to save innocent, brave lives who only want democracy.

Take in refugees, if you really care.

Do you, Japan?

Anyone affected? Of course not, neither the Myanmar people there see some of that money, nor will you and me here see from that more remaining money if the payments are really canceled. And the junta there gets even higher replace payments from China, because Xi can’t wait to take over there so that the new silk road becomes very much shorter and faster. And then...yes, then many are affected.

Anyone affected? Of course not, neither the Myanmar people there see some of that money, nor will you and me here see from that more remaining money if the payments are really canceled.

Japan's aid to Myanmar is used to build public infrastructure like roads and bridges. That benefits everyone in Myanmar. It's not all a big cynical plot to steal your hard earned. It goes to build the sorts of things private business never funds anywhere in the world because infrastructure helps their competitors as much as it helps them. That is why if falls to governments to fund infrastructure.

Why so late? Foreign aid and investments should have been stopped months ago. 

I think Japan is playing the good cop to the western nations bad cop. Considering Japan's history in the region during WWII they need to play their hand carefully, which it appears to me is exactly what they are doing.

Smithinjapan, absolutely right, their calculation is wholly based on economic advantage. Humanitarian and moral considerations simply don’t enter in to the equation from their point of view.

When it has been done then it would be news right?

Why so late? Foreign aid and investments should have been stopped months ago. Like the delayed vaccine rollout Japan is too slow to act efficiently and timely. Japanese bureaucracy made up of Patriarchal And bureaucratic old men cannot rise to the occasion. It’s time for Japan to have its best and brightest leaders which means women must break the glass ceiling and rise to the occasion

China: This is my time to shine!

Russia: Mine as well.

Why haven't they already? Are they afraid it might affect Kirin/Nissan sales to the Junta?