Gov't studies SDF response in event of Taiwan Strait conflict

In March, Phil Davidson, outgoing commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, testified at the Senate Armed Services Committee that he believed China could attempt to seize Taiwan within the next six years.

This is what is called a nightmare scenario. Everyone will come out as losers.

Japan won't do anything. Japan is an ally to no one but itself.

Given its constitution, very little it can do, regardless of how much it would serve its strategic interests.

Given its constitution

The Yasakuni Crew don’t give a monkeys about Article 9.

We should stay out of other countries business and buy multi-purpose helicopters and S-500 self defense missile systems.

"Japan won't do anything."

I am pretty sure Felix K Chang knows a thing or two about Japan's capabilities.

"https://www.fpri.org/article/2021/02/the-ryukyu-defense-line-japans-response-to-chinas-naval-push-into-the-pacific-ocean/"

Yes, study and the study some more and in the end nothing will happen because it was not studied enough to make a decision. This is something Japan learned from experience as they don't want to make the same mistake of not studding enough in 1941.

Japan was such a foe to China in WW2. We should never fight China unless they invade Japan. We should never go to war again unless we are invaded. It is the promise we made after surrendering to the allies including the Republic of China.

Japan was such a foe to China in WW2. We should never fight China unless they invade Japan. We should never go to war again unless we are invaded. It is the promise we made after surrendering to the allies including the Republic of China.

Those very same allies including the government of the Republic of China (which is currently the government of Taiwan in case you forgot) are asking Japan to help defend against the communist superpower that defeated the Republic of China forces during the revolution there. That communist superpower threatens the sovereignty of not just Japan but all those allies who fought Japan in WWII. Japan is now one of the allies by virtue of adopting democratic government. There is no longer any reason for Japan to be shy about standing with those allies against a mutual enemy.

It really is time for article 9 to go. If Japan can not enter any true reciprocal alliances then it's usefulness is limited. How many nations will defend Japan when Japan will not return the favor? There is strength in numbers and collective safety but with Japan standing on the sidelines it could be left out on its own to deal with China with only the US forces defending Japanese territory, trade routes and personnel. Other allied forces in positions to defend Japanese people may refuse to do so if Japanese forces do not defend allied interests in return. Japan could be a senior ally or a singular force that defends Japanese interests basically alone with the US off fighting enemy forces all over the region.

Let me be clear, nobody wants war or conflict. But should the worst occur you need a full range of options to defend yourself and that includes having allies plural watching your back.

Japan needs to stay out of it! If the running dogs of imperialism want to send thier slave armies to cop a blood-letting from China, that's up to them. Japan gov needs to kick American occupational forces out, declare neutrality and trade with everyone. If US ruling fascists don't like it, threaten them with an alliance with China and hope they don't nuke more Japanese cities.

These are called contingency plans and every competent military and/or government has them. I wouldn’t be surprised if the US has a contingency plan in case war is declared between it and Canada.

But Japan will do something if the US and China get into a tussle over Taiwan; they will profit mightily off of the conflict, as they did with the wars in Korea and Vietnam.

Why not sink the proverbial ship before it sets sail?

A hard cut on all China trade with all allied countries included.

We can choose to stop trading with China now, or on the declaration of war.

It might as well be now so we can adapt to the changes in peace time rather than struggling to adapt in war time.

Why not sink the proverbial ship before it sets sail?

A hard cut on all China trade with all allied countries included.

Funny stuff. You aren't aware China is the largest trading partner of Japan, USA and the EU? What you're suggesting would sink the global economy faster than a US aircraft carrier hit with a hyper-sonic missile.

Fully aware Paul.

Do you suggest trading with China whilst at war with China?

Or do you suggest letting China run over any country it chooses just to avoid cutting trade with them?

Do you think China will just chill out if we let them take Taiwan?

Do you suggest trading with China whilst at war with China?

Or do you suggest letting China run over any country it chooses

Taiwan isn't "a country" and it's USA which has been "running over" small countries like crazed fascists for the past 30 years. No indication China wants to do that.

Senkaku islands in Okinawa -- the latter of which China claims and calls Diaoyu -

Who cares what China calls them. Why does the media always have to insert this insignificant line?

YuriOtaniToday  10:52 am JST

Japan was such a foe to China in WW2. We should never fight China unless they invade Japan. We should never go to war again unless we are invaded. It is the promise we made after surrendering to the allies including the Republic of China.

Agree Japan should never fight the Republic of China again, and they probably won't since both are democratic nations. But the fascist PRC is something else, a threat to Republic of China and potentially to Japan as well.

Japan needs to get right up in it! If the running dogs of Chinese communist colonials want to send their slave armies to cop a blood-letting from the allies, that's up to them. Japan gov needs to back local American forces, declare solidarity and trade with everyone but China. If China's ruling Imperialists don't like it, threaten them with complete isolation and hope they don't nuke Japanese cities.

Taiwan isn't "a country"

Yes it actually is. Its own money, taxes, military forces and democratic multiparty political system makes it a country. No point asking China that question it always gets it wrong.

and it's USA which has been "running over" small countries like crazed fascists for the past 30 years.

Who over ran little Tibet and continues to occupy it? Who tried to invade Vietnam and wad kicked out in a few weeks? Who threatens little Taiwan continually. Not the USA but China!

No indication China wants to do that.

China has and continues to indicate it wants to do it again.

China's navy is nicely tucked in, inside the first island chain.

Exactly where it suits Japan.

And now under constant watch.

1) MQ-9B SeaGuardian UAV Demonstrations with Japan Coast Guard

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3IDVkl7yZc"

2) Japan’s RQ-4B Global Hawk high altitude Makes First Flight!

"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z81KhjouK2Y"

Mind our own business first.

Mind our own business first.

I would think ensuring the sea's and waters surrounding Japan are free and open is exactly Japan's business.

It’s interesting, @Peter14 7:40p, that comment

- “Mind our own business first.” -

from someone who just posted @7:27pm

- “Japan's politics must change.” -

englisc aspyrgend Today 08:46 am JST

Given its constitution, very little it can do, regardless of how much it would serve its strategic interests.

Rest assured that if the situation were to become very serious. Japan would ignore its constitution. In fact, he is already ignoring it right now.

Article 9. Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

SDFs should not even exist. If the constitution were strictly adhered to.

I will never tire of repeating. Article 9 is too obsolete for today's times. And I do not advocate eliminating it. It simply amends paragraph 2 and creates 2 or 3 new paragraphs, to limit future SDF actions.

If communist China invades the Senkaku Islands. They will be attacking Japanese territory. The same if they attack the U.S. bases in Okinawa. In this situation Japan will inevitably go to war. And at that time. The constitution will be the least of the problems.

Logistics support, supply chains and military intelligence like maximum near surveillance flights or data providing from the nearby radar as well from patrolling SDF and civil coast guard ships.... There is surely possible a lot within the allowed specter, also unofficially or undetectable and camouflaged , without immediately being considered ‘directly involved’.

Funny stuff. You aren't aware China is the largest trading partner of Japan, USA and the EU? What you're suggesting would sink the global economy faster than a US aircraft carrier hit with a hyper-sonic missile.

Sigh. The hyperbole. A hypersonic missile hitting an aircraft carrier is emphatically not going to sink it. Look up how much ordinance blew up on the decks of the USS Forrestal and later USS Enterprise when they had their big flight deck fires. Forrestal had the equivalent of a dozen big cruise missiles hitting it. Those ships are designed to absorb a lot of hits and not sink. By the same token cutting off trade with China would not lead to the crash of the global economy. There are dozens of nations itching to pick up the slack from China given the opportunity and suitable investment in their infrastructure. The only nation that would suffer appreciably would be China. Nations like the US for example are not all that trade dependent and trade with China makes up a small single digit percentage of the US GDP. If you shop like I do you would already know you can almost in every case avoid buying Chinese made products and still live a normal fulfilled life.

It's time that we Americans stop living the "American Dream" on the Cheap! Too much American production capacity has been traded off to China for, in return, cheap gadgets, Vehicles, Iron, Steel, Plastics, Apparel, Footwear, Furniture, Toys, games, sports equipment.... it's never ending. And for each Biz that rushes into the China Market, rushes with Profit as the motivator, and one of the frequent trade-offs for "entry" is "sharing" Technology. The US, as well as others, have lost jobs, job skills, and technology advancements that come from continuous & gradual step-by-step improvement. This is a huge topic that must be addressed cooperatively by productive nations that want to stay that way, and societies that believe in and support Democracy for their future generations. - TjD

Japan won't do anything. Japan is an ally to no one but itself.

What a selfish and narrow-minded view!

In case China attacked the Senkaku Islands and that the US had the same kind of negative view, who will come to the rescue?