Japan warns of rising security threats in annual defense report

We and the country that occupies 3.5% of Japanese land for military bases are the ones stirring up tension. Russia and China have no intention to attack japan unless provoked

Really, I get it let’s make everyone scarred. But remember Japans Navy is very modern. Not well led but modern. And in a crisis would ( I imagine) come under American influence? The air defences are adequate and can be quickly upgraded. The ground defence forces hopefully aren’t needed but are capable of holding their own long enough for allies to participate. I hope.

Russia has derailed itself China is watching probably drawing conclusions. Might not be as easy as we thought? After all the population of Taiwan not showed much love for the CCP.

. Russia and China have no intention to attack japan unless provoked

Someone must have deep inside info regarding the intentions of the Russia/China bloc. That Japan does not have huge reserves of natural resources that Russia/ China and other RICS states want does make Japan a less likely target for invasion.But the Japanese archipelago is situated near shipping points Russia and China might want to control, plus Japan's fishing grounds does put Japan on a possible bullseye for the new imperium.

If you’re on the wrong end of that rifle, you definitely have an immediate threat.

The government loves to keep trotting out this piece of "evidence".

Russia's Ukrainian quagmire makes a Chinese invasion of Taiwan even less likely. China's military relies on Russian technology and military doctrine. The Russian military can't even take over a country it shares a border with. The last time I looked at a map Taiwan and the mainland are separated by 90 miles of ocean.

It describes Moscow's attack on Ukraine as a "serious violation of international law" and raises concerns that Russia's use of force to resolve a dispute established a precedent that threatens the security of neighboring Taiwan

Most Japanese appear to share government concerns over Japan's deteriorating security environment, with recent opinion polls putting support for higher defense spending at more than 50%

Which is exactly why we see reports like this. US wants Japan to spend more on its expensive war toys so Japan needs to create the bogeyman.

Escalating national security threats

Yes because Japan cannot mind it's own business !

Stop provoking China !

Stop provoking Russia !

be diplomatic and build friendships.

This is a really tough neighborhood.

Best to be armed and ready for anything.

Love the Osprey in the background :)

@PTownsend

Japan does not have huge reserves of natural resources

You might find it interesting that Japan does in actual fact have massive extremely valuable resources of trace minerals and rare elements that are essential for chip production.

The USA has become reliant on the Japanese source as China isn't providing.

It's scary how big a mouth Japan is getting.

Making enemies is not a good thing

China said on Friday it firmly opposed Japan's new defense white paper and had sent stern representations to Tokyo.

That sounds like a big compliment for Japan :)

RodneyToday  06:46 am JST

We and the country that occupies 3.5% of Japanese land for military bases are the ones stirring up tension. Russia and China have no intention to attack japan unless provoked

Russia is invading Ukraine unprovoked. Taiwan is not provoking China but under threat of invasion. And who is this "we" you speak of?

The geopolirtical events started by Putin in February 2022 have raised security concerns for every country, not just Japan.

Russia and China have no intention to attack japan unless provoked

Russia is invading Ukraine unprovoked. Taiwan is not provoking China but under threat of invasion. And who is this "we" you speak of?

The geopolirtical events started by Putin in February 2022 have raised security concerns for every country, not just Japan.

Well said!

Japan warns of rising security threats in annual defense report

How about a white paper on improving the standard of living of the people

and prevent people's livelihood sliding into poverty and third world standards.

How about spending more money and provide affordable comfortable housing with a real

living room for the low income earners not the expensively priced 2 or 3DKs with the so called

living room the size of a pantry in an average family home in the U.S.

Those at the top know how to keep us the plebs in a state of fright while they plunder our taxes.

and don't there are people here believing the crap.

Interestingly, Japan's defense white paper was condemned by all of Japan's neighbors, China, Russia, Korea, North Korea.

Kind of hypocritical for the Chinese to talk about Japan ‘finding excuses for its strong arsenal’ when China is doing exactly that. The foreign ministry spokesman I’m sure can’t be well respected on the international stage, diplomat he is not.

Samit BasuToday  08:57 am JST

Interestingly, Japan's defense white paper was condemned by all of Japan's neighbors, China, Russia, Korea, North Korea.

So South Korea is really an enemy of the United States? LOL

Japan's provocation of it's close neighbours is to be expected under the command of the rogue state of the USA.

Sorry, but Russia attacking Ukraine and Putin quite literally stating he would be more than willing to start WW3 for his imperialistic ambitions has made this possible. China increasingly sending larger and larger incursions into Taiwan and trying to claim the South China sea as belonging to China regardless of internationally known nautical claim laws has helped make this possible.

Always keep this in mind. If China was so great, Taiwan wouldn't need to be taken forcefully. They would be banging down the China's doors to unify if the CCP were governing without oppression, suppression, and corruption. Same with Hong Kong. There would not have been demonstrations when the CCP tore down their democratic rights.

The same goes for Russia under Putin. All of the former USSR states would have joined back up immediately if the country had something worth joining back up willingly.

And yet for both countries, many of them flee to the west or more democratic governed nations in the region. WHY IS THAT????

Yes because Japan cannot mind it's own business !

Stop provoking China !

Stop provoking Russia !

be diplomatic and build friendships.

Japan is minding its own business. Since 1945, when did Japan threaten another nation with military action? You panda huggers need to fix your cranial-rectal inversion…

And yet, according to this very article, China spends a smaller percentage of GDP on the military than the US, Russia and South Korea.

Kind of hypocritical for the Chinese to talk about Japan ‘finding excuses for its strong arsenal’ when China is doing exactly that. The foreign ministry spokesman I’m sure can’t be well respected on the international stage, diplomat he is not.

Nobody becoming blurring in peace too much here in Japan .

This sort of threat issues already familiar with all takes for granted .

Biden and Pelosi are feuding on whether she should go to Taiwan, because the Pentagon fear for her safety as she travel by plane

@deanza, I was comparing Japan and China which spends more than Japan on its military, 1.25% of its GDP vs 0.95%

China is sounding like a broken record with all its rhetoric.

@HonestDictator (good name!) is spot on.

@OssanAmerica

Russia is invading Ukraine unprovoked

Thats completely false !

Who is this we you speak of ?

Obviously the 3·5% of Japanese land thats being used for military bases.

Perhaps you didn't have your morning wake up coffee yet

"Japan's new defense white paper makes accusations and smears China's defense policy, market economic development and legitimate maritime activities," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing.

At some point China must realize nobody else thinks like it does. It's constant military buildup and yearly increase in military spending are going to cause alarm in any sane mind. Japan is taking the correct response to heightened security concerns posed by Russia and China with NK also being a loose canon that needs constant monitoring.

Yes because Japan cannot mind it's own business !

Japan has every right to comment on international happenings.

Stop provoking China !

China is provoking many nations in the region and beyond. Japan provokes nobody!

Stop provoking Russia !

Russia is committing war crimes as it continues its illegal invasion of conquest in Ukraine. Russia has provoked the international community with it's disregard for human life and UN laws. Japan provokes nobody!

be diplomatic and build friendships.

It is China and Russia that must learn how to be diplomatic and build friendships and it is not through threats and fear. Some posters seem unable or simply unwilling to grasp that Russia and China are in the wrong and continue down a road of provoking nations left and right through intimidation and coercion. Japan, Europe and yes even the US have the right to stand up for themselves and their friends and for peace. China and Russia want to change the world order into one they control.

That horror will not be allowed to happen now or in the future. They are evil nations that have little to no respect in the West, Pacific, Europe, America's and even Africa which has identified China as treating blacks as sceond class people in China.

Japan stands up for its interests and concerns and if that is provoking China and Russia then they should get used to that. Japan has that RIGHT! And Japan is by no means alone.

After all the population of Taiwan not showed much love for the CCP.

interesting information. My Taiwanese friends say they want things to stay the same. They do good business with China.

Russia is invading Ukraine unprovoked.

Interesting information. Did you know that NATO is crusading against Russia’s borders under US orders, with troops, high tech weapons and nuclear capable jets? Or you probably haven’t heard of two independent Russian speaking countries in Donbass?

No big war around and yes guns have to be solved even in pushy way...so here we are are,its time to squeeze chunk of money from japanese taxpayers while they are trying hard to survive during covid days with zero support of government and many problems with japanese economy around.

China spends more. When will you make the same comments on China's continued military buildup?

Shouldn't China spend more on it's people and fixing the plight of the poor? Why is it always Japan that has to help its people but nothing from you on China spending less on its military machine to spend more on it's people?

As Rodney wrote

We and the country that occupies 3.5% of Japanese land for military bases are the ones stirring up tension. Russia and China have no intention to attack japan unless provoked.

Well Rodney and yourself certainly can claim to be stirring up tension against Japan as your more Chinese than Japanese with your always pro China comments. Japan's ally has bases in Japan with the blessing of the Japanese government. But confirming that both China and Russia could attack Japan for some perceived provocation by non threatening Japan is telling. Precisely why Japan must beef up defenses against such bully's.

Fully agree and everyone with common sens understands that.

Natural that someone who prefers China to Japan would say such nonsense.

Japan's spending as a percentage of GDP is lower than all other Group of Seven nations, as well as Australia and South Korea, it said.

Yet, Japanese spending is a huge amount as Japan’s GDP is the world’s third highest.

Yet, Japanese spending is a huge amount as Japan’s GDP is the world’s third highest.

China has a higher GDP and spends a higher percentage of its GDP on its military than Japan does.

Shouldn't you be campaigning for China to spend less to help its poor citizens?

Can't verify if it's true, but this info has been largely correct. Translated letters from FSB leaker show plans to attack Japan, but Ukraine was chosen instead.

https://www.igorsushko.com/2022/05/putin-intended-to-attack-japan-in.html

Ossan,and other China chickenhawk ,do the US really have Taiwan back Google Pentagon Pelosi Taiwan

Redstorm, Japanese are not supposed to pay protection money too their protector,I think a lot of problems with Japan and China,is lots of Chickenhawk Japanese politican running their big mouth,that know they cannot defend the Japanese people

All this talk and hot air about whether Japan should beef up its military, ( let’s call it option A) or should just throw in the towel and not bother, (option B) This is the meat and veg of the discussion right? How much defensive capability do we get for our buck , let’s put that to the side for a moment. Let’s simplify it to be or not to be question, for arguments sake.

So if Japan were to somehow reverse course and do what our Chinese friends want and pull right back on military spending, drop the 2% target and decide to be some sort of pacifist neutral entity in the region, would this appease China enough to stop their own belligerent behavior, stop their own Sabre rattling and military buildups and usher in a new era of shared goals, peace and prosperity for all? Is that the option on offer guys? It’s a serious question.

Anyone I’ve talked to on this very issue, people much smarter than me, experts in their field all state the very opposite. It would only serve to breed more arrogance, more unilateral demands, more aggressive behavior, more contempt. We all know on a personal level, and through the lessons life has taught us individually that you simply can’t appease a bully, especially one with a massive chip on his shoulder and and even larger sense of entitlement.

Please Chinese supporters, chip in and pray tell, what exactly are Japans options here? What exactly would be a good result for you guys? Can you state your end game for us ? Imagine if the shoe were on the other foot for a second, it’s a game of go versus a game of chess. It ain’t working.

Japan should nuke up. This is the only way to prevent another domination by others

Yeah, yeah, yeah... it's always rising when it comes time to apply for triple the defense spending of the previous year and declare the nation too broke to provide Covid or other assistance.

Rocket pig,who fear Japan ,

Blue# I hear ya. If they have an actual plan then they are not exactly being transparent about the details, in fact transparency is just not a thing here and understand the frustration and cynicism. Perhaps things like defense spending by the very nature of the game has to be somewhat secretive. I guess you wouldn’t advertise to a potential foe exactly what you plan on doing, sorta defeats the purpose doesn’t it? It is essentially a leap of faith and the original question still stands, what happens if Japan doesn’t at least talk a big game and put some big cards on the table when it comes to regional and collective defense. Japan certainly don’t seem to be the ones picking the fight.