Japan not considering sending SDF for U.S.-proposed maritime coalition: Suga

Japan's top government spokesman said on Tuesday that there was no change in the country's stance that it was not considering sending its Self-Defense Forces for a U.S.-proposed maritime coalition in the Middle East

That's just another way of saying that LDP are working behind the scenes to find the remaining seats for the 2/3 majority needed to revise the constitution and let Japan participate in the coalition.

PM Abe holds massive heaps of domestic and foreign matters. Anyway he doesn't want to play a vital role in the maritime operations.

Anyway he doesn't want to play a vital role in the maritime operations.

I don't know about that it would greatly please Trump's administration whose approval he so desperately seeks.

Abe only wants the legacy of article 9, no stomach (remember) for the real deal.

Japan has used their peace constitutions for their conveniences of excuses. It is now hitting limitations. Every country in the world knows about Japan's selfishness. Change the constitution.

Abe won’t send troops no matter what. Currently the government is building a relationship with middle east countries and try to obtain enough future oil reserve for the country. If Abe send troops,it would agitate countries like China and Russia who had been supporting countries in the middle east for years and also make enemies of the middle east who hate the US. After the recent tension with SK, the japan-china relationship instead has improve. So Abe will probably wouldn’t mind to intensify the tension with SK as long the relation is good with China. The SK-Japan recent conflict is a move for both countries to bolster more nationalisms into citizens and secrure more supporters for their governments. Is a good way for both governments to shift the public eyes to outside problems like foreign enemies while they try to tackle internal problems. This move have been use several times already for the last century by both SK and Japan.

It seems that Japan just doesn't want to join the coalition. It still remembers well the Iraq war in 2003.

Japan does have the numbers in terms of boots, also they are not always properly trained and inexperienced in fighting a war since WWII.

Their pride can't take another defeat. Not to mention, they are always worried about Russia, China or the Koreas using an opportunity like this to invade. Japan's success during WWII was partly do to the element of surprise and ill-equipped neighboring countries.

Japan was not all that great in head to head skirmishes. Now those neighbors are better prepared and have long memories.

Abe just wants to seem tough for his grandfather's legacy, but like someone said early, he doesn't have the stomach for real war. ;)

Just a year ago they were saying they wanted to change article 9, so that they can, for example, send troops to assist in foreign wars...

I don't trust one member of this government further than I can spit.

Bug bite to leave the constitution, as is, here!

Japan will not participate in any action unless it is part of a UN sanctioned coalition. However, there are valid arguments for Japan to contribute to providing protection to it's commercial vessels.

Well done Abe, tell the US to shove it. Why would Japan want to support a war mongering team of Trump and Bolton.

Well done Abe, tell the US to shove it.

Unfortunately for now there is no confirmation that Japan definitely won't particapte in a maritime coalition in  some shape or form.

Many scenarios are still on the table...

But why, isn't this exactly what Abe san wanted all his life?

Crossing out the Article 9 and sending out the Japanese Navy(not MSDF) across the globe to show the might of newly militarized Japan?

I am puzzled.

Well done Abe, tell the US to shove it.

I love it. In your world, declining a request equates to telling someone to "shove it". You're so deluded with your hatred for the US.

I'll plus one on the "go shove it".

Why on earth would supporting Trump and Netanyahu's war making against a nation Japan has no bad history with be "selfish"?

It strikes me that it is perfect commonsense.

Why on earth put Japanese citizen's in the firing line for Israel's geopolitical ambitions and drag it into the Zionist-Muslim dispute?

Why on earth is the American Right supporting and financing Israel's war making, putting American citizen's in the firing line for Israel's geopolitical ambitions?

Have they learned nothing from their previous stomping around all over the world?

Japan does not want to leave it's comfort zone. Japan protects only itself, and is protected by the USA. Any amendment to the Japanese constitution would be to defend only Japanese ships.

I don't think that this post-war security arrangement can last much longer in it's current form.

Mnd you, perhaps Japans decision is no bad thing. I don't think that Japan is ready yet to join the international community rearding maritime security.

Yesterday Abe was bad if he did join the coalition in middle east, today his bad because he didn't join.

Yesterday Abe was bad if he did join the coalition in middle east, today his bad because he didn't join.

You are correct AlexBecu, it would seem Abe is in a no-win on this issue. It would suggest that Japan is divided. I believe that Japans comfort zone will win the day, but whatever happens, I think that Japan -USA security arrangements will have to change (how, I don't know).

Why on earth is the American Right supporting and financing Israel's war making, putting American citizen's in the firing line for Israel's geopolitical ambitions?

Because it is beneficial for them equally so Saudi Arabia.

The question is and always has been "what's in it for me?".

If Abe changes the constitution which is against the people's wish and joins the US led maritime coalition you can be sure Trump will return the favor somehow.

Stay out of Trump’s Obama Hatred Tour. Japan is doing the right thing. No need to risk Japanese reputation in the world just because Trump is annoyed he was wrong about Obama being born in Kenya. Getting caught up in this Don the Con’s narcissist war would only hurt Japan in the long run. This is turning into another Iraq situation. Or maybe Vietnam 3.

@Ex_Res

Do you mean, "to join the international community rearding maritime security" ... or 'to join in the Zionist Right Wing wars in the Middle East'.

Please note that by "Zionist Right Wing" I do not just mean Jewish, but also the American Far Right Christian Zionists.

Is Japan ready to join the international community rearding maritime security? It already has.

Would it be wise to join in the Zionist Right Wing wars in the Middle East? Of course not.

Having tasted it first hand, Japan should never support any of America's immoral racist warring, ever.

If Japan wishes to make good alliances with powers such as US and Europe, they need to contribute to peace keeping missions.

Is a war with Iran really a "peace keeping" alliance?

Perhaps you might ask the 800,000 civillians who died in the last one with Iraq how they feel about that.

Japan does actually contribute hugely to genuine peace keeping missions through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

War is not peace.

Unfortunately, blackening one's face with America's war crimes only attracts the attention of America's enemies.

The best defence strategy for protecting Japanese society is not being party to its imperial warring.