politics

Defense minister apologizes over Aegis deployment survey errors

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I find this custom of Japanese bowing in fake atonement revolting.

I agree!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

I find this custom of Japanese bowing in fake atonement revolting.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Satake expressed concern that the Araya district might already have been selected as a candidate site before the survey was conducted

Of course it was, and since the ministry has said it will not change its mind there seems little point in redoing the survey, wasting time and money for nothing.

However, it wasn't long ago that we were treated to quotes from Akita fishermen claiming they were "scared" about North Korean missiles. Surely they should welcome a system that defends against those missiles, instead of moaning about it?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Snce when peak elevation angles are not confidential data to ensure efficiency and safety of military equipment.

Do they share those info with prefecture ?

Have prefectures military division within their organisation ?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

I sincerely can't see how you could say that given, to take a recent example, what the government did to the people in Okinawa. The people there have opposed the plan to relocate a U.S. military base within the southern Japanese island for years. There have been a referendum recently where over 70 percent of voters opposed relocating the base. Yet, the government decided to push ahead with the plan despite the referendum result. Saying the government will change its course because people aren't pleased with their decisions is just naive and so disconnected from the reality of Japan. 

This is Japan we are talking about. Since when its authoritarian and oligarchic regime has ever listened to his population?

Equating the Okinawa base relocation to the construction of one missile battery is extremely naive. Okinawa already has a large presence of US military troops, moving the base from one location to another within the same prefecture isn't even remotely the same as constructing a missile battery in a location that has previously never had a military presence. As far as I know it won't be manned by US personnel either but rather the GSDF. The "training" facility mentioned in the article is actually just the ruins of the old Akita airport, anyone can go there anytime. It's not a military base or otherwise a military location.

The Okinawa base relocation happened regardless of the referendum because there isn't any other place to put it. Not saying I approve of it, however the politics surrounding it are completely different. The Aegis system doesn't need to be in Akita.

Akita Mayor Motomu Hozumi said after meeting Iwaya later in the day that it is likely to take two or three years for the city to make a decision on whether to approve the Aegis Ashore deployment.

Considering the mayor is quite in tune with the local population, and as I mentioned, the city gets final say. The LDP isn't going to risk upsetting the hordes of farmers and pensioners in Akita that keep them elected.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I highly doubt it will. 

I sincerely can't see how you could say that given, to take a recent example, what the government did to the people in Okinawa. The people there have opposed the plan to relocate a U.S. military base within the southern Japanese island for years. There have been a referendum recently where over 70 percent of voters opposed relocating the base. Yet, the government decided to push ahead with the plan despite the referendum result. Saying the government will change its course because people aren't pleased with their decisions is just naive and so disconnected from the reality of Japan. 

This is Japan we are talking about. Since when its authoritarian and oligarchic regime has ever listened to his population?

5 ( +5 / -0 )

A bow, the end.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe & Co want to buy the most sophisticated ( and expensive) missile defense sytem in the world for billions from Trump & Co and they leave the setting up of it to bods with google maps, rulers, pencils and protractors (sic), who proceed-to-get-it-wrong - duh!!!

And we, the residents of Japan are meant to feel safe in the belief that the govt is doing it's best.

This story needs to go globally viral and held for the ridicule and contempt it deserves.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

If you think a bow, accompanied by an verbal apology, is accepting responsibility here, you are being fooled by the showmanship. This is all just appeasement for getting caught, the construction will go on, the Aegis Ashore will be built, and in Akita

I highly doubt it will. The city has final say whether or not it gets built in city limits. And since I live here, I can tell you that the citizens aren't exactly pleased by the idea. Unless the mayor wants to commit political suicide, it won't happen.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

after peak elevation angles were calculated based on figures measured by a ruler without noticing that the scales of maps used for checking the height and distance were different.

What a blatant incompetence funded by tax payers money. This could be just comic if it was not about military purpose.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

LDP as incompetent as ever. Make a decision before even looking at any due diligence. Then try to make reality match their fantasy. Sorry....but we have already decided.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

I’d say it’s more a case of deliberately fudging the data to gain approval. However, we all know that Japanese ministers are above the law.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Bow, bow, then open secret funds or falsify the documents, No one will know due their "its within state secrets law". Thats Japans Political system in a nutshell.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

Muraoka said this kind of faulty information "could shake public confidence in the central government" and he plans to urge Iwaya to make sure that such a problem will never happen again when the minister visits the prefecture in the near future.

Dude, "shake public confidence", double talk for you wanting to shake down the central government for more funding for your prefecture.

Like any politician would do when they catch them doing something wrong.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

Good for them, quite different from other countries where no one accepts responsibility.

If you think a bow, accompanied by an verbal apology, is accepting responsibility here, you are being fooled by the showmanship. This is all just appeasement for getting caught, the construction will go on, the Aegis Ashore will be built, and in Akita

9 ( +9 / -0 )

Just pretend your sorry in front of cameras and you can get away with anything here!

9 ( +10 / -1 )

In the meeting with the defense minister, Satake expressed concern that the Araya district might already have been selected as a candidate site before the survey was conducted.

What? The results decided before the survey was even conducted? No Mr. Satake, that never happens in Japan. Everything is always completely above board.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

Bowing by resting hands on the table, that's quite disrespectful bowing!

2 ( +4 / -2 )

The ministry has said the incorrect information was released after peak elevation angles were calculated based on figures measured by a ruler without noticing that the scales of maps used for checking the height and distance were different.

"High tech Japan?" ......... this is what happens when you have "analog" brains running around in the digital world!

12 ( +12 / -0 )

Good for them, quite different from other countries where no one accepts responsibility.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

Mistakes are accidents, this sounds more like fraud.

8 ( +8 / -0 )

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