Japan, Russia accuse each other of military buildups

It is a fact that Japan is on a path of getting much stronger than it already is militarily. This is all a part of Abe's dream of making Japan into a military powerhouse once again!

History is starting to repeat itself again!

History is starting to repeat itself again!

I seriously doubt that comment.

Lavrov brushed off Kono's criticism, saying his country is only operating in its own territory. "Under international law, the territory is under Russia's sovereignty and those are Russian military activities in Russian-held territory," he said.

So what's their problem with Japan's activities in Akita and Yamaguchi then.

It is a fact that Japan is on a path of getting much stronger than it already is militarily. This is all a part of Abe's dream of making Japan into a military powerhouse once again!

Good!

8T, I think it is true. Before Japan began its colonization of Asia, it secured the southern and northern islands.

YubaruToday  06:48 am JST

It is a fact that Japan is on a path of getting much stronger than it already is militarily. This is all a part of Abe's dream of making Japan into a military powerhouse once again!

History is starting to repeat itself again!

Oh really? Have they returned to having the Emperor being a God? Have they gone back to having a Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy in the cabinet? Better watch out for the Kempei!! Such nonsense.

Japan's present buildup, which they resisted for nearly 70 years, is a reaction to what is going on around them. They are being forced into it particularly by China.

How is Japan building up militarily going to be a threat to anyone?

Lol! Russia you have nukes!

Aren’t they a threat to us? Missiles and Missile Defense are a sovereign decision.

looks like something out of the muppet show.

Both countries are correct in their accusations.

Oh really? Have they returned to having the Emperor being a God? Have they gone back to having a Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy in the cabinet?

Better watch out for the Kempei!! Such nonsense.

Not yet.

Japan's present buildup, which they resisted for nearly 70 years, is a reaction to what is going on around them. They are being forced into it particularly by China.

Apologists for Japanese aggression constantly trot out the "Japan was forced to" argument. Hilarious.

Think Japans stance is driven more by internal dreams of Japan's golden times? than reality. Russia's out dancing Japan diplomatically, and militarily. Expanding military bases on what for Russia are undisputed Islands sends a pretty clear message...not going to get those back. The Russia defence minister looks like a gang fixer. Not a bad thing.

@KWBO

muppets indeed.... depressing isn't it....

Oh really? Have they returned to having the Emperor being a God? Have they gone back to having a Minister of the Army and Minister of the Navy in the cabinet? Better watch out for the Kempei!! Such nonsense.

Did you read what I actually wrote? History is "starting" to repeat itself. It may not be "exactly" the same but there are similarities.

Japan's present buildup, which they resisted for nearly 70 years, is a reaction to what is going on around them. They are being forced into it particularly by China.

Resisted? They had no choice in the matter. Or maybe you dont know the history behind Japan's recovery after WWII

Japan is installing an anti missile system within it's own borders while Russia is installing troops on contested islands... Typical Russian blustering.

Japan, Russia accuse each other of military buildups

Well, they’re both right!

OssanAmerican

History doesn't repeats itself but it often rhymes

Mark Twain

People who think Japan is going to be a resurgent military power are living in the past and unable to objectively view the present. That goes for the handful of right wing nutters in Japan and the commenters here who think that Japan is a rising military threat in the region.

China, North Korea, Russia.... all want to play nice. It's those sneaky Japanese you have to watch out for, right?

If you are looking for similarities to the past, current day China resembles Japan in the early 20th century.

Rissuance bears have been multiplying in Kuril Islands and Vladivostok.

BUT they're no match for our big bears in Hokkaido, our bears will eat through those Russian bears

AEGIS is a defense system, not an offensive "military buildup", Russian dummies. There is no crime in beefing up defense for a country. There is also no crime in working closely with the USA, the number one friend of Japan and a freedom-loving nation, to keep all Japanese citizens safe.

It is regrettable Japan must increase the Military budget, and purchase more defensive capabilities, but aggressive nations like Russia and Communist China have forced her to do it.

> If you are looking for similarities to the past, current day China resembles Japan in the early 20th century.

Not a good comparison. Japan was never as aggressive all over the world as PRC, economically, military, spying etc.

Apologists for Japanese aggression constantly trot out the "Japan was forced to" argument. Hilarious.

Entire Asia was victims of the Great Game between Russia and England and other Western Powers.

Remind yourselves of all those unequal treaties Asian countries forced to conclude. For those hypocrites, World history starts only from How WW2 started. Japan was forced to open the country and to protect itself.

China, North Korea, Russia.... all want to play nice

Sure they do just like Yakuza boss plays nice & calm smiling with a few gorillas behind him

I always wondered what kind of foreign politics is applying Abe,he wants to be intimate with both U.S. and Russian presidents,inviting them for "whispering night talks" with Putin and "buddy golf games" with The Donald,realistically how can Japan expect to get the island back and keep major tight with the U.S.

It is obvious that you have to choose one side,I am totally against Russian dictatorial and expansionist policy but I also believe that Russia and Putin are not idiots that will allow to lose their own territory and on the other hand Japan raise his military under the U.S. wing.

Lavrov brushed off Kono's criticism, saying his country is only operating in its own territory. "Under international law, the territory is under Russia's sovereignty and those are Russian military activities in Russian-held territory," he said.

Just like Crimea. Of course Russia is only obeying international law..."held" being a real legal term there.

-Lol

North Korea, China, Russia, all have nukes pointed at Japan, but of course it's JAPAN that's doing the threatening here.

-Double Lol

We're "living in a world of make believe with flowers and bells and leprechauns and magic frogs with funny little hats."

-Homer Simpson

Does Japan has the legitimate reason to blame Russia for buildup of military compound on their own soil, their Kurils?

Japan was never as aggressive all over the world as PRC, economically, military, spying etc.

@Ganbare Japan! Tell that to the Americans, Australians, Chinese, Filipinos, Indians, Indonesians, Koreans, Malays, Thais, and Vietnamese whose countries Japan invaded and attacked. Tell it to the millions of dead caused by Japanese aggression.

The comparison between 20th century Japan and 21st century China is very worthwhile.

@Ganbare Japan! Tell that to the Americans, Australians, Chinese, Filipinos, Indians, Indonesians, Koreans, Malays, Thais, and Vietnamese whose countries Japan invaded and attacked. 

Refer to Freedom Betrayed for America, and Japan enter those Asian countries to sweep all the ex-western rulers away from the entire area.

Well, at least the Japanese aren't guilty of kissing the rear-ends of dictators the way Trump has.

The whole thing has been a canard from the beginning, each getting their world stage moment to look tough at home without actually doing anything. The perfect photo op

It is absurd to claim the need for Japan to spend all that money on military because of China or North Korea. It is the pressure of the Americans to have Japan put few billions in to the American war industries and help Trump to be able to claim good business achievement. North Korea can make a lots of noise but aside from being able to fire few missiles before being taken of the map they are just a good excuse for the warmongers to sell the weapons. China is a different story, they will do what they want to do and Japan is not going to be invaded, not as long Japan does not force China to do it. And regardless of how much money Abe takes from his people and puts it into American pockets China can level Japan if it decides to do it. Safest thing for Japan is to stay economically strong and independent and to keep as neutral as possible. Making friends with China is better than being American proxy in their Clinophobia.

Another governmental complete waste of money. I can tell you for free that this has zero chance of happening while Mr. Lavrov is Foreign Minister. Pairing Mr. Kono up against him is like sending Taro Daniel out to play tennis with Novak Djokovic and expecting a favourable outcome! Mind you there probably isn't a foreign Minister in any other country who could go toe to toe with Mr. Lavrov.

OssanAmerica: "They are being forced into it particularly by China"

Japan is being forced by the US to prop up the US economy and to support Washington's global domination which is slowly coming to an end. Many nations are tired of being under Washington's heel. Without its allies (lapdogs), the US is a drop in the ocean. The sooner the nations of the world realize they do not have to kowtow to the US the sooner we will have peace and stability.

A defence system is part and parcel of an offense system, they are often designed to work synagistically or tweaked to an offense system. So it's prudent for Russia to watch out.

If Japan truly feel aggrieved and diplomacy fails, they're welcome to use other means whatever that means but should make it very clear. I have respect for decorum but none for rats. They always used surprise attacks before, I don't respect that.

I have seen people fight for for what we might consider worthless crags and die for them. So when Abe is mouthing "joint" cooperation in development of the Southern Kuriles but in practice beef up defense systems, Putin should be worried. The actions not the rhetoric.

( their territory, Japan lost the war and thats that ) 

 They always used surprise attacks before, I don't respect that.

What war with Russia? That coward backstabbed harf-dead person and invaded his house after war ended.

As a matter of historical fact, Russia's southward expansion during the Great Game was the bottom cause.

The representatives from both countries, look like they are taking a "Let's work together . . . . " attitude (towards Peace).

Pairing Mr. Kono up against him is like sending Taro Daniel out to play tennis with Novak Djokovic 

Taro beat Djoko once. Likewise Japan beat Russia once backed up by UK. Not now but the chance would visit to take back what got brutally stolen in future. Till then Japan better endure pains and insults and focus on shining his sword.

Our big Hokkaido bears have state of the art teeth made from titanium steel, target lock claws and a stealth bite that no Soviet era bear can counter. Our bears provide the best star wars defense shield.

The'll leave your Marxist Russian bears to the ground.

Russia says the new AGEIS ashore installations in Japan are a potential threat to Russia.

So that would make the Russian development and deployment of new hyper-sonic missiles that cant be intercepted a genuine threat to Japan. But naturally Russia does not mention that.

One system is for defense and the other for attack. Which one is the bigger threat? Can you guess?

@OssanAmericaToday

"Have they returned to having the Emperor being a God? "

Actually, as a matter of fact they have, although most people don't seem to realize this. Hirohito gave up his godhood, but when Akihito became Emperor he participated in the Daijō-sai ceremony, during which was united to the sun-goddess Amaterasu in such a way as to share her divinity (ie. become a living god). Naruhito will be performing the same ceremony on November 14–15.

BigYen

Correct on that, not to mention the destruction of the Bolsheviks of the past, their ideology seems to linger through today

@thepersoniamnow

If the debate is whether a country is a threat to other nations if they rebuild militarily, it is going to be necessary to look at what atrocities they committed, if any.

No one said Japan was the only country guilty of war crimes.

Every country have to defend it's interests, We cannot have only America and trump, having the best military defense. Having military defense is one thing, using it as a threat for business interests is another. Who are the countries largest in supplying military weapons ???. Answer this Question and all of u will know it is just propaganda. Maybe, Russia & Japan is disobeying trump, the man that thinks himself as god to the world ???.

how funny.

Not that Russia did not extend the treaty. It's that the cowards scrapped it and ignored the current maturity and back-stabbed for putting an end on the dying one to gain maximum return with minimum cost in the east, knowing that Japan defeated already, plus, raped and killed Japanese civilians ( which is so different from how US treated Japanese women) , took them away in Sibelia for detention, ignoring the spirit/promise of no-territorial expansion and invaded the disputed islands after War ended.

Never Ever Trust Russians

An anti missile system is wholly defensive, it just sits there doing nothing until some one fires a missile (aggressive act), so the Aegis system can only be a threat to Russia if they intend to attack you.

showchinmonoToday 06:51 pm JST

Not that Russia did not extend the treaty. It's that the cowards scrapped it and ignored the current maturity and back-stabbed for putting an end on the dying one to gain maximum return with minimum cost in the east, knowing that Japan defeated already, plus, raped and killed Japanese civilians ( which is so different from how US treated Japanese women) , took them away in Sibelia for detention, ignoring the spirit/promise of no-territorial expansion and invaded the disputed islands after War ended.

Never Ever Trust Russians

Japanese should THANK Stalin and events at the time. Were Stalin to invade Japan immediately after Truman asked him probably the whole of Japan at best or half of it would be Russian, and the majority of them would have perished in the Siberian Gulags.

Stalin was incadescent with rage for the betrayal by Hitler, so when Truman asked him to help in the Far East he agreed but on condition that they first finish with Germany ( 7th May 1945)and that he would need three months to move men and equipment through the trans- Siberian railway to the Far East. True to his words It took him three months to do that just when Japan was about to surrender ( Surrendered Sept 2nd 1945), he couldn't just move his men back home without doing anything. He fulfilled his promise.

showchinmonoToday

What war with Russia? That coward backstabbed harf-dead person and invaded his house after war ended.

If this half-dead person was HIDEOUS in his dealings with others, then I'm not surprised that someone back-stabbed him. And hell! people have done worse, such as dancing on their graves and worse.

Cogito Ergo SumToday  07:51 pm JST

Japanese should THANK Stalin and events at the time. Were Stalin to invade Japan immediately after Truman asked him probably the whole of Japan at best or half of it would be Russian, and the majority of them would have perished in the Siberian Gulags.

When and where Truman who was a born anti-communist asked Stalin？　You had better check if it was Roosevelt or Truman before long- posting.

Stalin was incadescent with rage for the betrayal by Hitler, so when Truman asked him to help in the Far East he agreed but on condition that they first finish with Germany ( 7th May 1945)and that he would need three months to move men and equipment through the trans- Siberian railway to the Far East. True to his words It took him three months to do that just when Japan was about to surrender ( Surrendered Sept 2nd 1945), he couldn't just move his men back home without doing anything. He fulfilled his promise.

So he just kept his promise ignoring the request for intermediary to end the War from Japan. and What was the heck that for?

If this half-dead person was HIDEOUS in his dealings with others, then I'm not surprised that someone back-stabbed him. And hell! people have done worse, such as dancing on their graves and worse.

BS Like I said here and there, you're typical story teller who starts only from WW2. Which ones ahd been HEDIOUS in their dealing with others?! Huh?

BS Like I said here and there, you're typical story teller who starts your history only from WW2. Which powers had been HEDIOUS in their dealing with others?! As for Russia, What the heck did it try to make endless expansion of it's territory to SOUTH and to EAST and to SOUTHEAST for !

Aegis Ashore systems are for defensive purposes only. And they would only be used in case Russia fires offensive missiles at Japan in a hostile action. That it is an action contrary to international law on peace and stability.

But later it's Japan who's to blame for everything. It is the country that destabilizes the peace and harmony of the whole region. Neither Russia, China nor North Korea are blamed for the escalation of tension or the military build-up in their respective countries. And it goes without saying that there has been an increase in belligerence or aggressive actions. No, they are not to blame.

Only Japan is exclusively to blame.