politics

Pentagon chief urges Tokyo to improve ties with neighbors

64 Comments

U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel has urged Japan to improve relations with neighboring countries after Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to a controversial war shrine.

Abe enraged China and South Korea when on Dec 26 he made his first visit as premier to Yasukuni shrine, which honors Japan's war dead including several high-level officials executed for war crimes after World War II.

"Secretary Hagel underscored the importance of Japan taking steps to improve relations with its neighbors, and to promote cooperation in advancing the shared goals of regional peace and stability," Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said in a statement posted on the U.S. Defense Department website late Saturday.

The comments were issued after telephone talks between Hagel and Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.

China and other Asian countries say the shrine serves as a reminder of Japan's 20th century aggression, and is a source of bitterness between Japan and its neighbors and Abe's visit also sparked criticism from Washington.

During their conversation, Onodera sought Hagel's understanding over the visit, telling his counterpart that the prime minister had renewed Japan's pledge that it must never wage war again, Kyodo News said citing Japanese officials.

Hagel had also thanked the Japanese government for its efforts in securing approval from Okinawa's governor to move towards relocating a U.S. Marine Corps air base on the island, Kirby said.

© (c) 2014 AFP

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"During their conversation, Onodera sought Hagel’s understanding over the visit, telling his counterpart that the prime minister had renewed Japan’s pledge that it must never wage war again,..."

Yeah, after the ultimatum that if China did not sit down and listen to Japan's demands he would visit, after white-washing history texts and saying things like comfort women and the rape of Nanking are made up (later admitting the former was not, but still suggesting they were all prostitutes), suggesting Japan HELPED Asia by colonizing it, and then after the visit suggesting Japan change it's 'war renouncing' article 9 of the Constitution. Now, forgive me, but Onedara must be completely daft if he thinks the world is going to buy things the way the public do here. You don't "pledge to never wage war again" by waging war.

16 ( +25 / -9 )

It takes two to tango. This rule applies to Japan and surrounding nations, as well as Washington D.C.

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Improve relations?

With Japan about to build a massive superbase for the US in Henoko, Okinawa and the US selling TONS of weaponry to this country, how can he say this?

Sure Japan needs to improve its relations.

Any leader who truly represented his country would have visited China long ago and threshed out the problem.

But not Abe.

He'd much rather sit in a safe and comfortable office in Tokyo and "take a tough stance" against China.

Both the US and Japan need to cut down on the military build up and secrecy, open up and talk, get to understand and negotiate with China, South Korea, etc.

10 ( +18 / -8 )

I urge the US to improve relations with the entire globe and it's own people.

16 ( +24 / -8 )

Apparently Hagel has little insight about Japanese political dynamics at current atmosphere.

The main reason that Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine was because he was trying to reenergize needed support from his conservative voting base as a sure fire to boost his sinking approval rating after failing miserably on his foreign policy and inflammatory passage of secrecy act. Now if Abe listens to Hagel’s advice and makes concessions just for the sake of rapprochement with neighboring countries, he will be caught between a rock and a hard place. Therefore, it’s would be safe to predict that it is unlikely that Ape will abandon his domestic voting blocks and follow Washington’s instructions for timebeing.

However, Abe might have to pay some heft price for his hardline stance. Obama has scheduled an Asia trip in April; if Abe goes too far on the right, Obama might bypass Japan. It’s unthinkable, but it’s still a possibility.

Hopefully, Abe gets the message sent from Whitehouse and tones down his nationalistic rhetoric a little.

10 ( +10 / -0 )

With regard to Japan's efforts to reform the constitution, Hagel's word were right on the mark. Even if Abe and co prayed for peace at Yasukuni, their decision to go could only be perceived as insensitive by China & S. Korea. Probably Japan and the US will have many more talks about how the transition to military independence could be realized, and one of the sticking pints, I imagine, would be "public relations".

5 ( +5 / -0 )

What a big time cop out by the Pentagon chief. Where was such statements when China decided to unilaterally create their new air zones?? It's all about politics and whats in their own interests.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

When the pot calls the kettle black, the pot is a hypocrite. But the pot is still correct that that the kettle is black.

So here is another government telling the Japanese government to smarten up. All we need now is for Yasukuni loving war mongers to attempt to claim the ad populum fallacy.

2 ( +6 / -4 )

MEANWHILE B-52 Bombers across China new ADIZ

4 ( +9 / -5 )

So what did Chucky say to the protagonists? What is the US, a defender of free speech and human rights, umm better have a look at some other countries too.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Thank God the US is there to provide the common sense that Abe is lacking

5 ( +10 / -5 )

Another proof that USA will not defend Japan, how to have good relashionship with country that is one party state ( China ) and has the uber disrespect toward human lifes, those from Tibet and other minorities know how good China government is , China made whole world dependable on them , just today, they let 16 countries from Europe that they will invest thousands of milions dollars , and if you ask , why China do that, answer is simple, they want them to be silent when they attack Japan . Thats bloody money, we are witnessing preparation of aggression on Japan, and thats sad, when you look Asia, Japan is most advanced country , and it will be destroyed by the pagans from China , thats how great civilisation allways perished, they make peacefull ideas , but some barbars think its time to fight, and there you go.Not to mention , all this WWII in Asia was because USA opened Japan with arms forcefully in 19 century ,before that Japan was under self proclaimed isolation for 200 years . That they didnt do that, Japan would never do all this that is under their shoulders today, so, now, USA is again making stab attack on Japan, USA made China big, and now they want to sacrifice Japan for the sake of new alliance with China . As always , shameful American politics .

-13 ( +5 / -18 )

@Nenad Jovanovic Happy New Year now quit drinking!

9 ( +13 / -4 )

As I said before, big change happens in little steps. Sign on the horizon shows US gradually pulling out of Japan and the mutual defense treaty. Can't count on other countries to defend Japan. Mr. Abe and Japan Inc. should change and become a nuke armed country. I think that you will find that not too many neighbors will start complaining about past history. Japan must be on equal footing with China and North Korea. Couple of ICBMs aimed towards those countries should shut them up.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

"When the pot calls the kettle black, the pot is a hypocrite. But the pot is still correct that that the kettle is black."

Basically, that's right. Just because the US are warmongers doesn't mean that Japan shouldn't chill out on the inflammatory actions.

Get back to building the economy Abe

4 ( +6 / -3 )

The main reason that Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine was because he was trying to reenergize needed support from his conservative voting base as a sure fire to boost his sinking approval rating after failing miserably on his foreign policy and inflammatory passage of secrecy act.

EthanWilber, you speak as if visiting Yasukuni and enraging China and South Korea was his only option. It wasn't. I am sure he could have won support from the right for just raising the legal decibel limit for black vans. Instead he punches a gaping hole in Japan's image of being a war renouncing country.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

It's like a candy seller warning addicted customers after a sale that those sweets are unhealthy.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

How about telling it to Bejing first?!

-11 ( +5 / -16 )

What a big time cop out by the Pentagon chief. Where was such statements when China decided to unilaterally create their new air zones??

Do you not read the news? The US almost immediately flew through the air zone without notifying China, completely disrespecting their supposed air zone. That's a heck of a lot stronger of a statement than any words would have been. And that's ignoring the actual statements they made.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Improve relations?

With Japan about to build a massive superbase for the US in Henoko, Okinawa and the US selling TONS of weaponry to this country, how can he say this?

Sure Japan needs to improve its relations.

Any leader who truly represented his country would have visited China long ago and threshed out the problem.

But not Abe.

He'd much rather sit in a safe and comfortable office in Tokyo and "take a tough stance" against China.

Both the US and Japan need to cut down on the military build up and secrecy, open up and talk, get to understand and negotiate with China, South Korea, etc.

US army military build up? The US is cutting its military budget by 500 million and planning a 25% reduction of army personnel. This hardly constitutes a buildup.

Meanwhile, China's defense spending has seen double-digit growth each year...

Just saying

2 ( +4 / -2 )

To cornbread1, I seem to remember a couple of US B-52s flying right through the new Chinese ADZ shortly after China created it; did you miss that, friend?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

On that same token, US politicians should not be allowed to honor veterans because they raged war on countries like Iraq (via supreme commander W. of course)

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Secretary Hagel's advice to Abe is full of inconsistencies. He urged Abe not to visit Yasukuni Shrine to improve ties with its neighbors -- above all, China.

At the same time, he thanked Tokyo for its efforts to implement the 2006 bilateral agreement on Futenma-to-Henoko relocation, a blatant contradiction against what he says about keeping friendly relations with China. Abe knows this inconsistency of Washington instinctively and, therefore, will keep visiting the shrine the same as before.

He thinks Japan is a sovereign state as far as this Yasukuni issue is concerned.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

With regard to Japan's efforts to reform the constitution, Hagel's word were right on the mark. Even if Abe and co prayed for peace at Yasukuni, their decision to go could only be perceived as insensitive by China & S. Korea.

All Abe prayed for at Yasukuni was more votes and higher approval ratings. He'd probably have the place bulldozed if he thought it would have the same effect.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

interesting conundrum- what does Japan do? disinter the war dead people are complaining about? but would that really change anything? or would the complaints still come in because of Abe honoring anyone from the war?

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Maybe the US gov should improve ties with its own people, its neighbors as well as the rest of the world.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

suggesting Japan HELPED Asia by colonizing it

Yes quite an absurd notion that any form of colonialism helped Asia, suggest one country in Asia apart from Japan that benefited from any Western or Japanese colonialism. Singapore is a one party totalitarian state and Hong Kong is only 'liveable' for the rich and expats.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Saying that colonization helped Asia is like saying slavery in the US helped black people.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

There are not only Yasukuni visits by Japanese politicians but also numerous military alliance issues that antagonize Japan and China squarely that the U.S. is coercing Tokyo into inplementing and cooperating. Therefore, Washington's public announcement that it's disappointed at Abe's Yasukuni visit is nothing but sophystry.

If Washington thinks Japan-China ties are so important, it should stop coercing Japan into building a new replacement base for Futenma.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Mr. Chuck Hagel Now, how do you suppose Japan do that? We have made all efforts we could think of for 69 years. Really, it's a long story with tears. We're now very tired. Just leave us alone.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

"If Washington thinks Japan-China ties are so important, it should stop coercing Japan into building a new replacement base for Futenma."

Actually, what people should stop doing is bringing up the base issue in completely unrelated threads (somehow not 'off-topic') to voice their anti-American, anti-US base stance when talking about Japan's past wrong-doings. You have Germany, the US, and other nations saying Japan needs to acknowledge it's history and not visit Yasukuni, etc., and it's simply amazing to see people come on here and try to deflect.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

We're now very tired. Just leave us alone.

Considering that the US is legally required to back Japan in the event of war, this is entirely their business, and there is no reason whatsoever that the US should just 'leave Japan alone'. They have a vested interest in the matter. If a war starts between Japan and China, the US will be trapped between the people they are legally required to defend, and their bank.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

It takes two to tango. If Korea and China refuse to meet him even before the shrine visit, Abe has nothing to do.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

I mean leaving us alone about improving ties with China/SKorea because as I said we've done everything we could do. Our paths never cross unless they stop anti-Japan education. When I was young in USA, I met many nice old Chinese/Koreans but not young ones to me.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

I mean leaving us alone about improving ties with China/SKorea because as I said we've done everything we could do.

Japan has not done everything that can be done by a long shot. Here is a list of things that can be done off the top of my head:

1) Stop paying respect to war criminals 2) Initiate proper education about what happened in WWII for the younger generation 3) Stop whitewashing history in the textbooks 4) Denounce politicians that make comments that deny Japanese atrocities of WWII 5) Put together some proper monuments around the capital denouncing war and vowing never to make the same mistakes again 6) Stop discussing the renunciation of Article 9, and instead embrace it as an example for the rest of the world 7) Acknowledge the comfort women issue

There is still so much that Japan can do. Japan is extremely lacking in war repentance.

These things all serve to antagonize Japan's neighbors, which in turn puts the US in a tough position in that they may have to go to war to support Japan. So they US has every right to butt into this situation and chastise Japan for its behavior.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan do this, do that, but China/SKorea don't have to do anything, right? Same old, same old...Why don't you cancel all treaies we had, and return all money. Then we listen to you.

-9 ( +0 / -9 )

StrangerlandJan. 06, 2014 - 04:26PM JST

Japan has not done everything that can be done by a long shot. Here is a list of things that can be done off the top of my head:

1) Stop paying respect to war criminals

No, it does not. Visiting Yasukuni does not mean paying respect to war criminals.

2) Initiate proper education about what happened in WWII for the younger generation

Yes, it does. Just show me what is "wrong" with history education in Japan.

3) Stop whitewashing history in the textbooks

No, it does not. Just show me what is "white-washed"?

4) Denounce politicians that make comments that deny Japanese atrocities of WWII

Korea makes quite a lot of misinformation that exaggerates or even fabricates "atrocities". Denying misinformation is not same as denying atrocities.

5) Put together some proper monuments around the capital denouncing war and vowing never to make the same mistakes again

For many Japanese, Yasukuni stands for that purpose. Just as Abe prayed that we will never start another war at the shrine.

6) Stop discussing the renunciation of Article 9, and instead embrace it as an example for the rest of the world

Discussion is an integral part of democracy.

7) Acknowledge the comfort women issue

Yes, Japan does acknowledge comfort women. You can see a lot of government announcements on that issue.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Jessenstein,

US army military build up? The US is cutting its military budget by 500 million and planning a 25% reduction of army personnel. This hardly constitutes a buildup.

Who's talking about the US army?

I wrote "US military."

The US may be cutting back on their army, and reducing "defense" (hah!) spending overall, but they certainly are building up their bases all around China:

SEOUL - The U.S. military is in the midst of an $11 billion project to create the largest U.S. garrison in Asia at Camp Humphreys.

BUSAN, South Korea - Filmmaker Oliver Stone traveled to Jeju Island in South Korea to protest a planned naval base opponents say is part of a U.S. effort to dominate the region. The U.S. military plans to build a base on the island as part of a so-called Asian pivot--to move 60 percent of its naval assets to the Pacific by the end of the decade.

MANILA - The United States is negotiating an agreement to allow it to position military equipment and rotate more personnel into the Philippines while avoiding the contentious issue of re-establishing American bases in the country, according to officials from both countries.

http://antiwar.com/blog/2013/08/22/the-us-is-encircling-china-with-military-bases/

China has not threatened the U.S. with attack. It has not challenged core "U.S. interests." The Obama administration simply objects to China's growing economy and military. Such powers are reserved for America, goes the thinking. So, we'll threaten anyone who challenges that with war.

The US is actively causing tension with China.

Methinks Hagel should take some of his own advice and improve US relations with the rest of the planet.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Wilkens MicawberJan. 06, 2014 - 05:09PM JST

In what twisted logic do China and Korea make amends to Japan?

Good call. Tell so to U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@SmithinJapan

You don't "pledge to never wage war again" by waging war.

Japan isn't waging any war.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

No, it does not. Visiting Yasukuni does not mean paying respect to war criminals.

1000+ war criminals are interned at Yasukuni. Politicians pray for the souls interned at Yasukuni. Therefore politicians are paying respect to war criminals at Yasukuni. You are correct, visiting Yasukuni does not mean paying respect to war criminals (I have been there, and I most definitely didn't pay them any respect), but I didn't say 'visiting' Yasukuni, I said 'paying respect to war criminals at Yasukuni. Praying for their souls is paying respect to war criminals.

Yes, it does. Just show me what is "wrong" with history education in Japan.

WWII education is somewhere between limited and non-existent in Japan, depending on the textbook and the school. Ask most Japanese people why the world thinks they are in the wrong for WWII, and very few have any clue whatsoever, as they have not received an education in this. How can they be expected not to repeat the mistakes of the past, when they do not learn what those mistakes were? So to answer your question, what is wrong is that Japan's wrongs are not taught in schools in Japan.

No, it does not. Just show me what is "white-washed"?

The number of casualties at Nanking is either skipped altogether, or downplayed as much as possible. The issue of comfort women is excused. Japan is portrayed as the victim due to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, while ignoring the fact that these events happened as a direct result of Japan invading sovereign nations and starting wars.

Korea makes quite a lot of misinformation that exaggerates or even fabricates "atrocities". Denying misinformation is not same as denying atrocities.

Japanese politicians often do this without any prodding from Korea. Look at Hashimoto last year - he suddenly started trying to whitewash the comfort issue without any prodding from the Koreans, trying to say they wanted it. This is not denying misinformation, it is trying to whitewash history.

For many Japanese, Yasukuni stands for that purpose.

Yasukuni is the ultimate whitewash. It entirely portrays Japan as the victim, and skips over all crimes. This is NOT the type of monument I was speaking of. On the contrary, Yasukuni serves the opposite purpose of putting together memorials. It tries to reframe things as if Japan was the victim, and does not even remotely acknowledge Japan's wrongs.

Just as Abe prayed that we will never start another war at the shrine. His actions belie his words. He 'says' he wants peace, while praying for the souls of war criminals. In such a situation, his words can only be taken as lies. If they were truthful, he would not be praying for the souls of war criminals.

Discussion is an integral part of democracy.

Sure it is, but in this case the discussion only goes to show that Japan isn't remorseful for its actions of the past. He has the right to discuss, but just because he has that right, does not mean that he gets a free pass from being criticized for it. My points were all regarding the fact that Japan has not done enough to atone for the war, and his discussions on renouncing Article 9 prove it.

Yes, Japan does acknowledge comfort women. You can see a lot of government announcements on that issue.

When you have elected representatives of the people saying that the comfort women wanted it, then these essentially negate the government announcements. So no, Japan does not acknowledge them.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

StrangerlandJan. 06, 2014 - 05:25PM JST

WWII education is somewhere between limited and non-existent in Japan, depending on the textbook and the school.

Here is the link to the guideline of high school education at the ministry of education and science. http://www.mext.go.jp/component/a_menu/education/micro_detail/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2011/03/30/1304427_002.pdf

The guideline for history education is shown on page 18 thruogh page 22. Any histry textbook must contain explanation of WW2. WW2 is the most frequently asked part of history at the university entrance exam, so high school students learn quite hard on that topic.

The number of casualties at Nanking is either skipped altogether, or downplayed as much as possible.

I have not heard that historians agreed on the casualty number of battle of Nanjing. What is the reliable number? If there is no reliable number, the scholastic way of presenting the case is that the number is unknown.

Look at Hashimoto last year - he suddenly started trying to whitewash the comfort issue without any prodding from the Koreans, trying to say they wanted it.

What do you mean by "trying to say they wanted it"? You mean Hashimoto did not say? As I remember, he did not deny comfort women. He suggested use of prostitutes to prevent rapes, if prostitution is legal, as in many European countries today.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

interesting conundrum- what does Japan do? disinter the war dead people are complaining about?

praack, the answer is to join the rest of the world rather than give them the middle finger. Guys hung for war crimes after the war are not war dead. To be war dead, you have to die during the war and as a result of it. Key words here are "after the war". Its so simple, yet missed by so many of you. Tojo and his noosed up buddies are not war dead. They are not.

So what to do? Pick a cemetery, just like every other country. Honor war dead there, and I mean real and actual war dead. Is that really so difficult? Whats the problem? An attack of pride necessitating a refusal to back track? A firm belief that Japan is above everybody else and needs to do things differently?

Well, just the idea that Yasukuni has inducted people's souls should instantly disbar it from being government official anything since that clearly makes it a religious org. So same answer. Go pray at a cemetery. Dead bodies are not creations of religious imagination.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

funny carJan. 06, 2014 - 06:12PM JST

Whats the problem? An attack of pride necessitating a refusal to back track? A firm belief that Japan is above everybody else and needs to do things differently?

Probably, that is called freedom of religion.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

No funny car It's not that easy. 1. Japanese public visit the shrine for two centuries. 2. Japanese public support politician go there. 3. Many young soldiers died saying See you in Yasukuni. Only thing possible is maybe PM refrain from visiting, but those type of PM can not stay PM long.

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

I have not heard that historians agreed on the casualty number of battle of Nanjing. What is the reliable number? If there is no reliable number, the scholastic way of presenting the case is that the number is unknown.

By presenting the full range of numbers, and not consistently trying to downplay it to as low a number as possible.

What do you mean by "trying to say they wanted it"? You mean Hashimoto did not say? As I remember, he did not deny comfort women. He suggested use of prostitutes to prevent rapes, if prostitution is legal, as in many European countries today.

IIRC he said that the comfort women wanted to be comfort women. If not him, other politicians.

Anyways, the point I was making, was that Japan has not done nearly enough to atone for their actions in WWII, and their repeated attempts to downplay what they did, and to portray themselves as the victims, angers the real victims - their neighbors. This in turn brings it closer to war, and as America is bound to defend Japan in such a place, the US has every right to admonish them for their stupidity in dealing with their neighbors.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

No point trying to persuade someone who refuses to listen nor acknowledge his country's war crimes. In any case Shinzo Abe's fate has been sealed. He is going be cast out by the Japanese people into the wilderness where he can contemplate his faults and wrong doings that has cost his country a lot of pain on account of his ego.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Well done Abe, now we just need to change the constitution and Japan will be save against attacks from the neighbour countries that claims that Kyushu is also their territory by historic reasons....

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

How much longer must Japan keep taking orders from their masters in America thw war has been over for nearly 70 years now?

Even Okinawa can not get rid of them when the people want them out.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Well said, Bear27840!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

What Japanese Government can do it if its neighbors do not want friendship with Japan and continue using Japan as their political tool for their political career gain?

Secretary Chuck Hagel should ask S. Korean President and Chinese president for their true reason.

I don't think it's important thing to have smooth relation between Japanese PM and S. Korean & Chinese President. Both China and S. Korea economy are grew recent year and they becoming treating Japan as their economy rival than before. They try to discriminate Japan on international stage and try to get sympathy votes from other countries to promote their products and culture.

Both ruling party in Communist China and S. Korea are using Japan's past history for changing peoples mind on domestic political where problems with high rates of corruptions and misusing public funds by party and Government high rank ministers and official in both countries.

I’ll let them do their business and we should continue doing business usual. Nothing will happen. It likes situation of puppy who wants attention from his owner and barking day and night. One day, they will learn what is wrong and right.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Japan is just respecting souls as our custom. We should carefully watch which country is taking Japan side or being quiet. Those will be our friends.

-7 ( +2 / -8 )

By asking this on Japan, the US is pointing fingers at Japan as the cause of the conflict.

I now see why Abe is calling on their neighbors to hold a peace meeting. His tactic is to come off looking like the good guy to the Americans. He wants to portray himself as the guy who says he wants to talk but nobody listens to him. In the meantime, he still goes around bad mouthing his neighbors behind their backs and making up all kinds of negative stories about them. But his neighbors keep silent and ignores him. He shrugs his shoulders and looks at the American, "see? they don't want to talk peace, what can I do!".

-1 ( +3 / -5 )

@Bear27840Jan. 06, 2014 - 10:22PM JST

How much longer must Japan keep taking orders from their masters in America thw war has been over for nearly 70 years now?

Even Okinawa can not get rid of them when the people want them out.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

@ BertieWoosterJan. 06, 2014 - 11:00PM JST

Well said, Bear27840! ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ok the US will leave and they China will claim spread their air defense zone into Okinawa then you will cry foul where is the US when we need them!

Now what!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

MEANWHILE B-52 Bombers across China new ADIZ, and United States is so happy to make war game every(1 week) somewhere in the world.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Never wage war again? Then why all the offensive weapons? Best tanks in the world to defend a chain of disjoint islands?

2 ( +3 / -2 )

Japan is just respecting souls as our custom.

Yes, respecting the souls of war criminals is the custom of Japan, as evidenced by visits to Yasukuni by Koizumi, Abe, and hundreds (thousands?) of politicians over the past decade. And this is why Japan's neighbors are angry.

By asking this on Japan, the US is pointing fingers at Japan as the cause of the conflict.

Japan nationalized the islands which began the current conflict. Japan continues to whitewash history, downplay their actions in the war, up-play the 'benefits' of their invasion of other countries, and move towards becoming a warring state again.

The problem here is that while the Chinese and Koreans are annoying with their constant whining, their whining can be justified by Japan's actions. If Japan were not giving them fodder to whine about, then they (Japan) could easily come from the higher ground when this whining happens. But since Japan isn't taking the high road, they don't have much to defend themselves against all this whining.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

rsgz4gg7y2Jan. 07, 2014 - 07:39AM JST

Never wage war again? Then why all the offensive weapons? Best tanks in the world to defend a chain of disjoint islands?

Oh. How can tanks in a chain of disjoint islands be offensive when the country has verry very limited assault landing ships?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

if Abe truly wished to honour the war dead, he would insist that the souls of the executed war criminals be enshrined elsewhere, and that the controversial adjacent museum be revised or removed.

-2 ( +1 / -2 )

But Japan made so many efforts already ; it is its neighbours who keeps refusing to recognize them. US should scold China and Korea , not Japan.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Japan has canceled out any efforts it had made by trying to whitewash history and portray itself as the victim. The US was correct in admonishing them.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Japan has canceled out any efforts it had made

That would be "false" since both of those nations, never acknowledged the post war contributions from Japan. I think the general population within Japan are simply tired of both. In other words, they are sick of "you owe us" attitude.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

All they need to is simply acknowledge past wrongs, and censure any politicians who continue to make denials. Problem solved

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Who's talking about the US army? I wrote "US military."

If you want to be Technical, the United States Air Force is losing 10% of its personnel within the next couple of years, as well as 800 planes we can no longer afford.

So, yes, the "US Military" IS reducing its size.

Please do some more research on topics you don't know of, the US isn't recruiting more people to this Region, they're relocating them, which means less people in other areas.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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