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Suga rejects claims Japan lurching toward militarism

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By Linda Sieg and Nobuhiro Kubo

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Japanese military expenditures are mostly weapons. USA and China still spend to keep foot soldiers while Japan do not have amount of foot soldiers. It may be because of Article 9 but more likely technology change in the world. If japan will be militaristic country, more likely Japan will use robotic technology and drones on the air while China will depend on foot soldiers. Well, China dropped one boy in one family policy and Chinese family can now have more than one son while Japanese population has been declining. So, Japan has no choice but using different robots operating weapons. Weapon operator robot will be more advanced than multi-linguistic receptionist robots a few years ago Japan Inc introduced at Electronic Show in Vegas. 21st Century military differ than WW II era military.

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evian1Feb. 20, 2014 - 06:36AM JST @joebigs, xoxo, foxcloud, you ought to take some intro political science 101.....back to school. your logic of comparison is absurb!! who's comparing with who, isn't that Japan white paper on defence/security keeps comparing China, and Japan?? Isn't Japan keeps on the scrutiny and demanding transparency of China military spending?

Interesting, you believe that comparing India and Communist China is absurd? You would rather compare a nation that has a population of 128 Million and one that has a population that has 1.3 Billion.

evian1Feb. 20, 2014 - 06:36AM JST Why does Japan being a WW2 loser country with "peace consitution" needs to be #5 in global military spending??

And Germany is ranked Number 9 and Italy is ranked number 10, any complaints there?

Italy's population is half of Japan's while is a little over half, and complaints with the nations having armies?

evian1Feb. 20, 2014 - 06:36AM JST I'm not Chinese, and I hold no prejudice against any Japanese.....but I hate to say that I'm absolutely disgusted with those right wings like Abe, Ishihara, Hashimoto.....the open-eye liars, war crime deniers.......who unfortunately will path the way for Japan to another war of aggression for younger Japanese generation...... Oops I forgot, there's no invasion, no agression, they call it "advance"....the communist call it "liberation"

Interesting, here in Japan you never see masses of people calling for an invasion of China or any other nation. Nor are there state run papers calling for war again China or any other neighbors.

Can the same be said for China? No, it can't.

It appears that you have a skewed idea of who should be able to defend themselves and who shouldn't be able to.

If you believe that Japan is being militaristic you really need to understand this country more and stop falling for propaganda.

BTW, I am not Japanese and I have no problems against the People of China, I do have an issue with the Communist who oppress and control the masses.

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@evian1 Why woud China, with a similar size coastline, need a considerably larger navy and the #2 military spending then? You're logic is flawed. China has made numerous claims to wanting peace, yet its own history is far bloodier than Japan's. So why should people make a fuss about Japan's military spending when a far more aggressive nation spends around a hundred billion dollars more? Have you even looked at what Japan's military budget is spent on? Defensive systems and interception aircraft/ships. What's China's budget spent on? Aircraft carriers and multi-role fighter jets. Big difference. Japan is ony interested in defending itself from an aggressive and provocative China. It's because of China's constant provocation and year-on-year military spending increases that have caused Japan to boost spending as well. Japan can't afford to be caught off guard. As long as China keeps building up its military might, Japan will continue increasing its defensive capabilities. The best offense and all that. If China genuinely wants peace, it can slash military spending and stop antagonizing Japan at every turn, accusing it of becoming "Militaristic."

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@joebigs, xoxo, foxcloud, you ought to take some intro political science 101.....back to school.

your logic of comparison is absurb!! who's comparing with who, isn't that Japan white paper on defence/security keeps comparing China, and Japan?? Isn't Japan keeps on the scrutiny and demanding transparency of China military spending?

Why does Japan being a WW2 loser country with "peace consitution" needs to be #5 in global military spending??

wouldn't my propaganda raise some eye brows to the world /Japan audience for a war crimes denier?? Isn't the Chief Cabinet Secretary is crying wolf first than admitting their past atrocities?? yeah....I know they offered "thousand of apologies" and also "thousand of denials"

I'm not Chinese, and I hold no prejudice against any Japanese.....but I hate to say that I'm absolutely disgusted with those right wings like Abe, Ishihara, Hashimoto.....the open-eye liars, war crime deniers.......who unfortunately will path the way for Japan to another war of aggression for younger Japanese generation...... Oops I forgot, there's no invasion, no agression, they call it "advance"....the communist call it "liberation"

Remember not just Chinese, Korean, and South East Asian nations, and Japanese commoners too are victims of this pervert, complete unhuman (forgot such word to describe such beastly behaviour) military regime under H.Tojo, and its demi-god like Tenno!!

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evian1Feb. 20, 2014 - 03:38AM JST Oops Suga san forgot to mention that being a "peaceful" nation, our defence spending is ranking 5th in the world. Japan needs to spend $400/ per person per capital in order to remain military supremacy in East Asia. We are concern China is spending $84/per person per capital and have a double digit growth for many years to come.

The obvious always slips out of sight when one tries to make a point.

Communist China outspends Japan by over $100,000,000,000 per year.

Japan's Coastline is either larger or almost even depending on which source you use. But Communist China's Navy nearly 4 times larger in ships and around 8 times larger in manpower.

Communist China PLA Navy 300,000 personnel, 520 Ships, 400+ planes and around 70 subs.

Japan MSDF, 46,000 personnel, 135 Ships, 800 Aircrafts and around 16 Subs.

Your propaganda means nothing. Now if you want to compare apples to apples why don't you compare India's Military spending to that of China?

Both nation's populations are similar........

Hey look, India's at 30.7 and Communist China is at ..... Get the point?

StrangerlandFeb. 20, 2014 - 01:11AM JST Modern Communism is nothing like Classical Communism and that is where the evil lies. There is no modern communish.

Let's agree to continue to disagree....

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Oops Suga san forgot to mention that being a "peaceful" nation, our defence spending is ranking 5th in the world. Japan needs to spend $400/ per person per capital in order to remain military supremacy in East Asia. We are concern China is spending $84/per person per capital and have a double digit growth for many years to come.

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China, China, China. I wonder what kind of water they are drinking. Japan has time and again apologized from the crimes of it's military seventy years ago. Doubtless no one from that era is in power in Japan's Government. Should Japan ask for an apology for What the Ghanghis khan Hordes attempted to do in Japan Before the Taifun's dealt with them? China is quite possibly the most aggressive world power on the stage. Maybe The US and other concerned Countries should shut off diplomatic relations with them and trade. It would hurt the US but it would Hurt China more. All for rare earth materials. In a way I wish Japan had atomic weapons. just for protection of course.

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Some USA people think Japan will take over USA weapon industry just like Japanese auto makers succeeded. Japan jhas nuclear weapon system technology and that is why N Korean threatening, they say. So, it is not militarism but weapon business?

As of December 2011, Japan began exporting weapon systems... mainly avionics and missile defense systems (which includes electronic guidance systems and warheads). Japan exports to the U.S., the EU and Australia. Right now, Japan doesn't produce the volume to be competitive in the global weapons market... however, that could change. Weapons is about the only industry the U.S. has left.

Japan has started making a big scale of weapon production for global market, and S Korea's weapon export is growing rapidly. It won't take long for The US and EU to lose their last industry. The usa and eu deserve this bad consequences for selling technology to these 2 countries.

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Modern Communism is nothing like Classical Communism and that is where the evil lies.

There is no modern communish. There is communism, and states who say they are communist because the truth would be too damaging - what you are calling modern communism. If it were "modern communism", it would be a form of government following the tenets of communism in a modern manner, and as the tenets of communism are not being followed at all, by China or any other state, it's not communism. It's just a farce.

The CPC is Communist because it allows the CPC to hold a people under their thumbs.

No, the CPC is not communist in anything other than name. And a name means nothing.

This new argument (propaganda) by the Communist in China is them using one of Mao's strategies.

China is not even remotely communist.

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I for one believe that ultimate peace in Asia will come from peace talks with Tokyo, Beijing, and Seoul so maybe it is a good thing that they dispute over the isles now than to wait any further to address this issue but, I do not agree with the US involvement in the matter because logically the US will want an ultimate outcome that benefits their future agendas, so more than likely, it will be best when the decisions made should come from the direct viewpoints of an Asian mind set rather than a Western mind frame.

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This article is about Suga talk, and we are discussing China, Let us get back to discuss what Suga said and even our guess on what Suga means, . Our guesses could be better than talking about China.

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Thunderbird2Feb. 19, 2014 - 10:17PM JST I still want to see proof of this rise of militarism in Japan. Numpties denying war crimes isn't militarism, it's a bunch of fossils being idiots and that's being picked up by Japan-haters as evidence of a rise in militarism. Repealing article 9 is probably a response to China's sabre rattling. As others have said, Japan hasn't carried out a single aggressive act on its antagonistic neighbours for the past 69 years.

This entire argument has nothing to do with fact. This new argument (propaganda) by the Communist in China is them using one of Mao's strategies.

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive.

The CPC wants Japan to become passive so they can do what they wilt in the whole of Asia. They are using their little red book of tactics and only the foolish or ill informed are falling for this bunk.

All one has to do is open a book or magazine to see the truth. Do your own research, don't fall for the CPC's Confucius Institute propaganda.

Japan isn't the evil militaristic state, the CPC is....

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I still want to see proof of this rise of militarism in Japan. Numpties denying war crimes isn't militarism, it's a bunch of fossils being idiots and that's being picked up by Japan-haters as evidence of a rise in militarism. Repealing article 9 is probably a response to China's sabre rattling.

As others have said, Japan hasn't carried out a single aggressive act on its antagonistic neighbours for the past 69 years.

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OXOXOFeb. 19, 2014 - 05:40PM JST Gauntlet lifted.The people run a communist country. If a country is ruled by a group of people its called an oligarchy. China is politically an oligarchy.

Well stated and that is correct, and there lies the problem with Marx's utopian Society, there will always be a class that takes the reigns and puts down all others. From Communism evolves a new form of Monarchs even though they don't claim to be.

A new form of Aristocracy, but these Aristocrats don't have titles and lands, they call each other Comrades and create connections through friends and family then gain power. Marx never foresaw this when he wrote his farce.

He believed that everyone would be sitting around singing kumbaya and sharing. Marx was a fool and his vision was a truly flawed fantasy.

We have no arguments here.

OXOXOFeb. 19, 2014 - 05:40PM JST Economically, everyone in a communist country gets the same wage, or, they get no wage and all products are free. If the people have jobs with varying wages, and have to pay for all products they consume, its a form of capitalism. The other variable is who owns the companies? As far as I know, many more private citizens own the companies than companies are government run. That would be somewhere between socialism and capitalism.

Here you have forgotten one major thing, for true Communist to believe that they are living in a Communist State everyone must be a Communist.

So, in the mind of a true Communist the only way to achieve the Communist Utopian state the entire world must be Communist.

How does a Communist achieve his dream? Easy, by defeating his enemies and re-educating them once he wins.

So they use the "by any means" mentality to achieve their dream.

Ergo, that is why the Communist elites in the CPC are using Capitalist. Communist had a wake up call when the Soviet Union went broke. They saw that they could never battle Capitalist if they have to spend money. So why not fight Capitalist with their own money instead?

China has something that every insane Capitalist wants, cheap labor! So, the elites in the CPC are using that to achieve their goals. But, something happened on the way to their Utopian heaven, greed kicked in.

Greed, is the kill joy to all Aristocratic Communists, they think that they are the only ones who can be greedy. So, when the masses start wanting more, they got nervous, bingo Document Number 9.

OXOXOFeb. 19, 2014 - 05:40PM JST Another way to look at it is, Che Guevera was a true communist. Fidel Castro only used Che and the word communism to hide his dictatorial dreams and get the support of the people and Che. Fidel took over the communist dream and made it a dictatorship. It was the same with Stalin and the Soviet Union. The only good thing about China's system is that it includes more people in the ruling of the country. But its still not communist. That is just a handy label and a smokescreen. It makes about as much sense as "genuine artificial leather".

No arguments, I respect Che' and his ideals, He was a man of the people and not a man who wanted power. That is why he was sent to die.

And that brings us back to Marx and his farce.....

Marx was a true dreamer and he never foresaw what would become of his dream. That dream has been perverted and changed into what we call modern Communism.

Modern Communism is nothing like Classical Communism and that is where the evil lies.

The CPC is Communist because it allows the CPC to hold a people under their thumbs.

Now, about the Chinese people, they are truly a great people and have done and created great things for our world. Those people are not the Communist Party of China, they are what is blighting China today.

China will be great again when the CPC is no more, but to that to happen folks will have to wake up.

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Thank you OXOX. It's apparent that JoeBigs and Fox Cloud don't actually know what communism is.

The fact of the matter is that there has never been a true communist country, though there have been approximations over time.

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Okay, please by all mean layout your argument why China isn't Communist or ruled by them.

Gauntlet lifted.The people run a communist country. If a country is ruled by a group of people its called an oligarchy. China is politically an oligarchy.

Economically, everyone in a communist country gets the same wage, or, they get no wage and all products are free. If the people have jobs with varying wages, and have to pay for all products they consume, its a form of capitalism. The other variable is who owns the companies? As far as I know, many more private citizens own the companies than companies are government run. That would be somewhere between socialism and capitalism.

Another way to look at it is, Che Guevera was a true communist. Fidel Castro only used Che and the word communism to hide his dictatorial dreams and get the support of the people and Che. Fidel took over the communist dream and made it a dictatorship. It was the same with Stalin and the Soviet Union. The only good thing about China's system is that it includes more people in the ruling of the country. But its still not communist. That is just a handy label and a smokescreen. It makes about as much sense as "genuine artificial leather".

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I've read article 9, and I've also read the tenets of communism. China is almost entirely capitalism run rampant, with a few items of racism thrown in. It's most definitely not communist but you can imagine that it wouldn't go down so well if they renamed themselves the Facist Capitalist party.

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StrangerlandFeb. 19, 2014 - 11:52AM JST "A rose by any other name..." Just because they call themselves communist doesn't mean they are. Read the tenets of communism, and you'll see that China follows almost none of them.

You may wish to read Document number 9 and see what the CPC thinks it is rather than blindly make some claims.

I have attached some articles on that very Document for your reading pleasure.

http://www.ipcs.org/article/china/ipcs-special-commentary-china-document-no-9-and-the-new-4175.html

and this is the best one....

https://www.chinafile.com/document-9-chinafile-translation

Here is an excerpt from the above translation....

5. Promoting the Wests idea of journalism, challenging Chinas principle that the media and publishing system should be subject to Party discipline.

Some people, under the pretext of espousing freedom of the press promote the Wests idea of journalism and undermine our countrys principle that the media should be infused with the spirit of the Party.

This is mainly expressed in the following ways:

Defining the media as societys public instrument and as the Fourth Estate attacking the Marxist view of news and promote the free flow of information on the Internet slandering our countrys efforts to improve Internet management by calling them a crackdown on the Internet; claiming that the media is not governed by the rule of law but by the arbitrary will of the leadership; and calling for China to promulgate a Media Law based on Western principles. [Some people] also claim that China restricts freedom of the press and bang on about abolishing propaganda departments. The ultimate goal of advocating the Wests view of the media is to hawk the principle of abstract and absolute freedom of press, oppose the Partys leadership in the media, and gouge an opening through which to infiltrate our ideology.

Read the rest and see why China is still Communist and ruled by Communist.

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"A rose by any other name..."

Just because they call themselves communist doesn't mean they are. Read the tenets of communism, and you'll see that China follows almost none of them.

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China isn't Communist? Then what is the CCP? Do you not even know what CCP stands for? Chinese Communist Party. They're the ruling party in China. Their emblem is the hammer and sickle, used by Soviet era Russia, on the Soviet flag. The Soviets of course being well known Communists. All of this information is readiy available online. Took me literally two seconds to pull these facts up. It's taken me longer to type them than to find and read them.

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StrangerlandFeb. 19, 2014 - 12:03AM JST "Really? Can a Chinese person own real estate in China? Can a Chines person vote for the country's leaders? Can a Chines person even publically express an opinion counter to that of the government without fear of legal prosecution?"

What do any of those have to do with the tenets of Communism?

No "communist" power has remained true to communist tenets, so if that's your standard of measure, there are no "communist" states and likewise no "democratic" states. But in the real world that China is run solely by the Communist Party of China, which incidentally was formed as a branch of the Soviet Communist party, should be sufficient.

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Saudi Arabia Prince is visiting Japan. Japan Inc members have been helping US weapon industry such as Boeing, Is Saudi wants to buy made by Japan Inc weapons from Japan?

BTW.Japan Communist Party member numbers have been dwindling. I think Chiba has more communists than Japan. China has 21sr century communism. It is not like Map Tse Ton ir Stalin time, Just like USA that has different democracy but still calls it democratic country. China calls it Communism country.

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StrangerlandFeb. 18, 2014 - 11:39PM JST Which communists are you talking about? There are probably more real communists in the Japan Communist Party than there are in all of China. Because China is not even remotely communist.

So again the argument that China isn't Communist and still you refuse to look at who controls China and to whom does the PLA pledge their loyalty to.

Okay, please by all mean layout your argument why China isn't Communist or ruled by them.

I have asked this before, but not one taker.

So, here is your chance, prove that China isn't Communist or ruled by Communist.

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Really? Can a Chinese person own real estate in China? Can a Chines person vote for the country's leaders? Can a Chines person even publically express an opinion counter to that of the government without fear of legal prosecution?

What do any of those have to do with the tenets of Communism?

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trangerlandFeb. 18, 2014 - 11:39PM JST China is not even remotely communist.

Really? Can a Chinese person own real estate in China? Can a Chines person vote for the country's leaders? Can a Chines person even publically express an opinion counter to that of the government without fear of legal prosecution?

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Communist and their allies have a simple plan, make the world believe that Japan is evil and force it to lay down their arms.

Which communists are you talking about? There are probably more real communists in the Japan Communist Party than there are in all of China. Because China is not even remotely communist.

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Suga san, can't you just ignore such absurd claim? Onaji dohyou de tatakau na. Don't fight with China in the same ring.

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“For the 69 years since the end of World War Two, we have built the present-day Japan based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga

Again, I will ask any and all of the anti-Japan crowd here, can you prove his comments, any of them wrong?

Simple question are hard to answer when answering those question will expose folks as having an ulterior motive.

Communist and their allies have a simple plan, make the world believe that Japan is evil and force it to lay down their arms.

Let's look at some of the quotes Mao said about waging war...

Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun. Why Communist China builds an army for war.

Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy Why Communism can't be believed or trusted.

To read too many books is harmful. Why they spend so little on education and more on propaganda.

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive. What they are trying to do to Japan.

smithinjapanFeb. 18, 2014 - 04:18PM JST Thanks for the laugh of the day. I'm going to keep laughing about it as Japan tries to repeal article nine and refuses to return weapons-grade plutonium to the nation it hides behind.

As always smith, your hatred and agenda shine brightly.

toshikoFeb. 18, 2014 - 08:24PM JST seems that Japan is more interested in weapons than manpower. Maybe because of shortage of males in Japan? Or they like robots operating weapons than making young men on front line? Drones than pilot operated planes?

I will take a well trained military over an untrained mob any day. The better you are trained the less troops you will lose in a fight. Japan's small military is a darned fine one and I think every Japanese citizen should be proud of it.

BTW, well said.

SentimentsFeb. 18, 2014 - 09:29PM JST So far we have not seen much more than angry rhetorics in the conflict. Maybe there is still time for negotiations, of course given that the parties can meet with a reasonable level of mutual respect.

I'm impressed, well said, all of it.

tyvtgo1USFeb. 18, 2014 - 05:42PM JST Per capita spending has no link to power of a nation.

Nailed it!

slumdogFeb. 18, 2014 - 05:40PM JST When you finish 'laughing', maybe you could point to a neighboring country that Japan has attacked in the last 69 years?

Slumdog, don't bother asking these radical left to even answer a simple question, you'll never get a response because they know if they did they would have to face reality.

slumdogFeb. 18, 2014 - 05:40PM JST When you have done that, which you cannot do, please point to the groups of Japanese people routinely being arrested for posting criticisms of their government on the internet. You see, one can easily point to these things with regard to China. You cannot with Japan.

Now you've done it, now they'll call you names. But, remember the more names they call you the more they will expose themselves.

In the end they can't defend their positions or defeat a single one of your facts. All they have on their side is rhetoric and no facts. It will take time, but most hard left Communist realize that their way of thinking is flawed and will never prevail against facts and reality.

So, keep proving them wrong and they will do what they always do, runaway with their fingers in their ears calling you names.

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I think Highball gave a good view of the matter. Specifically about the economy. On the political arena a pragmatic viewpoint goes a long way. However a pragmatic viewpoint could be a problem when one part seems to be looking to subdue the other one and serve some old payback. It could also be a problem if Japan wants to develop but the neighbors insist in keeping them in the current position, or at least choose which way they may develop. I think the main part of the Abe agenda is not about old school militarism but a matter of the sense of true independence, and of course the estimated effect of national pride. Its easy for independent nations to take these things for granted but what about Japans position? At some point the war guilt has to end. When it does they will have the opportunity to say that they choose peace as their political policy, without anyone coercing them or feeding them statements. If Japan prefers to identify with the west rather than China, what is the big deal. Proximity does not equal identification. Small groups of extreme right wingers will always shout about their inferiority, sorry superiority ;-) but I think the Japanese population has abandoned such ideas a long time ago. Today it is about prosperity and how to achieve that in a situation when the global economy is the one to really worry about. So far we have not seen much more than angry rhetorics in the conflict. Maybe there is still time for negotiations, of course given that the parties can meet with a reasonable level of mutual respect.

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seems that Japan is more interested in weapons than manpower. Maybe because of shortage of males in Japan? Or they like robots operating weapons than making young men on front line? Drones than pilot operated planes?

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Per capita spending has no link to power of a nation. We see China's power and how its growing even with its per capita spending less than Japan. This does not make China any weaker, and will not make its military any less powerful than Japan's or even anyone else's.... isn't that a fact? The more money you spend the more powerful your military is going to be,, per capita or not!!!!!!!!! So this argument is totally void concerning this issue!

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Thanks for the laugh of the day. I'm going to keep laughing about it as Japan tries to repeal article nine and refuses to return weapons-grade plutonium to the nation it hides behind.

When you finish 'laughing', maybe you could point to a neighboring country that Japan has attacked in the last 69 years? When you have done that, which you cannot do, please point to the groups of Japanese people routinely being arrested for posting criticisms of their government on the internet. You see, one can easily point to these things with regard to China. You cannot with Japan.

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Wow, the wingers are in full-force on this thread, as they know full well Suga is in the wrong and need to deflect.

Slum dog: "Correct, then Word War II ended, Imperial Japan lost and the present day Japan made a peace treaty with China in 1978 after seven long years of negotiations. Since the end of the war, Japan has been nothing but peaceful to its neighbors. China cannot say the same."

Thanks for the laugh of the day. I'm going to keep laughing about it as Japan tries to repeal article nine and refuses to return weapons-grade plutonium to the nation it hides behind.

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@australianexpatinchina: Right, that's exactly my point. China's population is approximately ten times that of Japan (as I understand it, China's population is approximately 1.3 billion, while Japan's is 127 million), so obviously, their per capita defence spending is going to be lower than Japan's. $1,000 spread out over 10 people is $100. $1,000 spread out of 1,000 people is $1. Do you see how that works now? So there goes the "Per capita" argument.

Besides, JoeBiggs brings up some very good points, with some interesting figures as well. I wasn't aware that South Korea had a higher number of enlisted personnel than Japan, but there you go. And again, there is the point that Japan's budget is spent on defensive hardware, such as anti-air and anti-ship defenses, whereas China spends on warships and fighter jets.

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It is not about what one says, it is about what one does.

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JoeBigs: Sorry I misunderstood your comment.

slundog: Because USA owes China and Japan, then it upped debt ceiling, China is richest and Japan is 2nd. So I agreed with you comment,

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Joebigs: If you want to disprove anything Suga said, how about you do little bit of research and do yourself? If you do good, you can submit to some organization and get paid handsomely. People here are just commenting, So, you do by yourself, I suggest.

Maybe I am reading that wrong or you didn't get what I meant, but I agree with what Mr. Suga has said. In other words, everything he said was spot on and cannot be argued with.

I wasn't trying to find someone to disprove it.

Hope that clears that up.

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Actually Toshiko, the autocorrect in the JT posting system changed the numbers of my post. Japan is number 5 according to the link's list of military spending and China is number 2. Just to be clear, according to my link, the US is number 1.

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Someone is asking what Per Capita means. It means total amount of whatever divided by number of population. simple arithmetic. Example is ( total money Japan spent on armament ) / ( how many japanese people are living - including babies and children)

slumdog is right, richest countries are No1 China, No2 Japan. USA is not in this ranking.

Joebigs: If you want to disprove anything Suga said, how about you do little bit of research and do yourself? If you do good, you can submit to some organization and get paid handsomely. People here are just commenting, So, you do by yourself, I suggest.

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China and Korea need to clarify what they fear from Japan, you can't base a debate around a wishy washy political term like "militarism", it's little more than manipulation. I suppose the Japan that Abe envisions is more "militaristic" than the Japan that existed before, but that doesn't say a whole lot. Is the US a "militarist" state? What about China? France? Norway? Costa Rica?

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Lie propaganda of communist China is nonsense. Communist China has invaded Asia now. In Japan, there is a need to re-armament by discarding the GHQ Constitution.

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I am still waiting for anyone to disprove Suga's claims, but the only thing try and bring up are excuses as to why Communist China has such a large army.

Again, please by all means disprove Suga's claims about Japan and it's neighbors. Then while your at it please by all means explain away the actual numbers of the different military sizes.

Crickets continue to play their tunes....

AustralianexpatinchinaFeb. 17, 2014 - 06:51PM JST Incorrect! Per capita means per person. Not what the average person makes in salary. In the context of how much China spends per capita means how much they spend per person.

Now, once more let's see if we can get this right, when I presented the hard facts as to the sizes of those militaries can you refute them, yes or no?

I asked that very question, but still have no takers.

Please, if you can show me other facts by all means do so.

AustralianexpatinchinaFeb. 17, 2014 - 06:51PM JST There is also something else missing from the equation and that is the area of land mass and length of borders and coast line that China needs to defend.

Okay, land mass there are no arguments there, but let's look at coastline....

If you use World Factbook Japan has almost twice the coastline, but if you use the World Resources China is larger by a little over 1000 KM.

Now, the Chinese Military PLA doesn't swear an oath to the Chinese Constitution or one to defend China. They swear an oath to protect the Communist Party and the Government (which is the Communist Party). Now, if I am also mistaken here please show me the light.

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 05:39PM JST You do realize that china has a much bigger territory to defend than Japan. Besides there are many countries that spend more on military than Japan.

Not coastline......

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Austrailan is right. That is why I only wrote what these three countries spent last year. I had numbers from SIPRI YEARBOOK 2013. No 1 USA, No 2 China, No 3 Russia, (90,7 bill. $) No 4 UK (60.8 bill $) No 5 Japan. 6 France 58.9 B, 7 Saudi Arabia 56.7, 8 India 46.1 b, 9 Germany 43,8 B, 10 Italy 34.6 B, 11 Brazil 33.1 B, 12 S Korea 31.7 B, 13 Aust 26.2 b, 14 Canada 22.5 B, 15 Turkey 18.2 B . You don;t want to know other countries. Too many, Anyone can figure per capita or per area based on total spending anyway, Just know what is population, and area size and just arithmetic for each country,

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Anyway, a little netsearch reveals Suga to be a 'windbag'..........

I don't know. Different webpages with different numbers:

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/rich-countries/countries-with-the-biggest-military-budget/

China – $166 billion China accounts for 9.5 percent of the military spending in the world.

Japan – $59.3 billion Japan accounts for 3.4 percent of the military spending in the world.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Joe Biggs-You say "What does "per capita" mean? Well, that is simple, how much people make on average. The argument that China is actually spending less because it's people make less is complete silliness."

Incorrect! Per capita means per person. Not what the average person makes in salary. In the context of how much China spends per capita means how much they spend per person. In other words it means to average their defence spending by the amount of people in the country. There is also something else missing from the equation and that is the area of land mass and length of borders and coast line that China needs to defend. A far greater area than Japan. That is something that is possibly still a thorn in the side for some Japanese politicians. That is that Japan went through what they did in WWII and still don't have that land mass and coast line......................

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

You do realize that china has a much bigger territory to defend than Japan.

Yes, and if they have their way, China's territory will continue to get much bigger.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 05:39PM JST

I think territorial sea of China is no bigger than that of Japan. I think the coast line of China is no longer than that of Japan. Why do they need so many ships?

I am also not sure if Chinese Peoples Liberation Navy is under government control, because it is a military arm of the communist party. I often see some discrepancy between what PLN says and what foreign department of China says. If things go on like this, there are good chances that an unwanted war will occur.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

You do realize that china has a much bigger territory to defend than Japan. Besides there are many countries that spend more on military than Japan.

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

slumdog,

Correct, they did their fair share of that before those 69 years.

Correct, then Word War II ended, Imperial Japan lost and the present day Japan made a peace treaty with China in 1978 after seven long years of negotiations. Since the end of the war, Japan has been nothing but peaceful to its neighbors. China cannot say the same.

No matter how many idiots in Japan say stupid things about their opinions of what happened during WWII and before, it does not change the fact that Japan has not attacked its neighbors or persecuted its citizens since the end of WWII. China cannot say the same thing. Why is it so many are so willing to ignore Chinese actions since the end of WWII?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Oaky, let's us try this one on for size.....

How many wars have the Japanese been involved in since the end of WWII?

lucabrasiFeb. 17, 2014 - 12:47PM JST "What does per capita mean? We'll that is simple...." It is. But it's not what you seem to think it is....

Please, by all means inform us.

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 01:00PM JST All this squabbling over China's military is hilarious. Facts are facts. China only spends about 1/6th of Japan's GDP per capita on military, and 1/28ths of America.

But a few facts that you are conviently leaving out is that the PRC spends 2x (times) the GDP and over $100,000,000,000 more than Japan.

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 01:00PM JST Why don't you complain that the US is spending about as much as the entire world's military spending COMBINED?

Who says folks aren't complaining about it. The conversation revolves around the pro-Communist China group claiming that China isn't spending a lot of money because the average citizen makes 1/4 a Japanese makes.

Facts are facts, and percentages mean nothing when it comes down to the cold hard numbers.

So, let's play the real numbers game, let's look at the cold hard facts.

Communist China PLA air force 340,000 personnel and 5000 aircrafts

Japan ASDF, 45,000 personnel and 1145 aircrafts

Korea Army, 65,000 and 809 aircrafts

Communist China PLA Army 2,000,000 regular, Tanks 9,000

Japan GSDF 148,000 regular, Tanks 760

Korea Army, 500,000 regulars, 2346 Tanks

Communist China PLA Navy 300,000 personnel, 520 Ships, 400+ planes and around 70 subs.

Japan MSDF, 46,000 personnel, 135 Ships, 800 Aircrafts and around 16 Subs.

Korea Navy, 68,000 personnel, 166 Ships and 14 submarines

Try and refute the real numbers lads, bet you can't.

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 01:00PM JST "Wah! I don't know what per capita means!" lol...

Trying to play the numbers game with Military strengths is silly. The facts that I have shown above prove your "they're spending less than Japan per capita" argument just doesn't fly. The only way China will ever be a true superpower is when it pays it's masses more than tidbits.

If they would spend a little more on their education and less on it's military it just might be a true superpower.

Eiji TakanoFeb. 17, 2014 - 01:00PM JST LOL. Everything has got to do with Korea with you, don't you? You're Korea obsessed. Just like the... you know.

So, you don't believe that Korea is part of this equation? Come on, keep up with the times. Korea has everything to do with this region of the world.

-1 ( +6 / -6 )

Suga san's 0.8 figure does little to shed light on what Japan actually does spend.

And how does Mr Suga know what China"s budget is?

Anyway, a little netsearch reveals Suga to be a 'windbag'..........

http://www.mapsofworld.com/world-top-ten/world-top-ten-countries-with-largest-defence-budget-map.html

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

...not to mention the fact that Japan has not attacked or invaded any other country, or killed its own people just for protesting during the last 69 years.

slumdog,

Correct, they did their fair share of that before those 69 years.

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

America spends 4x as much as china on military. Wah! America is militaristic! Well actually, it is...

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Ting ZhaoFEB. 17, 2014 - 10:44AM JST Yoshihide Suga forgot there is unfinished business between China and Japan on Japanese committed atrocities during war.

Tell us all, how does Japan and China finish their "unfinished business". My guess, it will never be finished.

Or, is this China's version of a bad western movie. . . "Don't turn your back on me Japan. 69 years and multiple reconciliations and payments are not enough. We have unfinished business!!!"

3 ( +6 / -3 )

The issue with Japan is not about whether its been a free or democratic peaceful nation. Which Japan is by all accounts.

The issue here is what the current and future leaders of Japan aspire to do. There is a different outlook from the western world toward its relationship with Japan compared with China. The distinction is clear when you compare Abe's regime with Koizumi's regime. Both are anti-China. Both are right-wing conservatives. But yet Koizumi enjoyed much better leverage and relationship with US and Europe than Abe does. And its not due to the lack of influence by China towards the US or Europe where China was beginning to flex its own muscles during Koizumi's time. IT is the pure and simple fact that the world' perception on China has changed. Yes, China is a communist nation but they are not projecting Marxism and Communist ideology outwards. In fact, the concentration gradient of communism is diminishing day after day in China. The only thing that is concerning is its desire to become a world power instead of just a regional power and its assertions on its purported territorial claims.

We know what China is and what it will most likely turn into. The expectation and speculation is very clear.

However, we don't know what Japan's current crop of leaders are thinking deep down. The only way for Japan to become relevant again is either through its economic revival or it becomes militaristic again. The easier path is the latter. Its clear as day that economic revival is not going to happen anytime soon. Japan's been on this stagnation for over 2 decades. And its a much easier trick to embellish threats from traditional foes in order to garner domestic supports from the wary and concerned.

You can't blame US or the rest of the world for being skeptical or at the very least "concerned" about Japan's current political and social climate. We know what Xi of China wants to do. He's a reformist but he also wants to solidify the communist party as a trustworthy one in China. That's he's intention. Its a domestic one. He's trying to appease the hardliners by being forceful with territorial claims so he can really do the far more important work on reforming China and curbing corruptions. Its showing results in China in major ways. Top communists corrupted leaders as in possible on the highest echelon has been deposed. So he needs to keeps up the support from the hardliners in terms of a stern position against Japan, Vietnam and Philippines in order to gain their support on eradicating corruptions and reform its financial banking and state enterprises.

US understands that. Obama, Biden, Hilary Clinton, all the Republican leaders understand that. Its good for China and good for the rest of the world if China becomes more stable and continue to motor that engine that runs the world.

So there is a lot in play. Japan's Abe chose the wrong play. He could've simply said there is a dispute with the islands while not conceding the rights of those disputed islands and he condemns the shrines and past actions on comfort women. That would've gotten Japan into China's good side. That would lead to more exposure of Japanese brands and products into China and weed out the Koreans or even some of the American brands.

But he chose wrong. So Japanese businesses suffer. The entire electronics world in China is dominated by its domestic brands, Taiwan brands and Korean brands. Buick and Volkswagen are the top sellers. Even Uniqlo is being squeezed by American Eagle and those Korean brands.

The failure of Japan's strategy towards China directly cost an entire generation's growth and prosperity in Japan. Which resulted in slower growth and a march to the right-wing nationalistic direction.

The current stance by the world on Asia is China leads, India and Japan follows. Note: its INDIA, then Japan. Unless Japan can figure out how to come back to the top or be satisfy being second or even third as India will no question become second quickly. Japan should either play game with China or end up being an outcast in Asia. Japan's perception by the rest of the Asians is that you are not one of them. And when the rest of the Asians rise up, and its a matter of when, not if, Japan will be left behind.

Sometimes, taking a step back and wait for the right opportunity isn't such a bad thing.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

I did like the Japan "based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace", but I don't like what Abe's been trying to change Japan to be, a right winger militarist country.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

SIPEI release data 2013 military soendings in $ billion.''

USA 688;

PRC 166

JAPAN 59.3

S KOREA 31.7

Some countries are less populated so total spending, I used. Of cause Russia and UK spend more/ than Japan.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Per capita spending on military is no way to compare, china is spending on aggression japan is spending on defence.

Wake up, how about israel's spending compared with say iran's?

Depends on where you are, who your neighbours are and what there intentions are !

-1 ( +4 / -4 )

You have to be fair and say that China's military spending per capita is lower than that of Japan's.

United States 2,141 (2009) Japan 401 (2009) China 74.7 (2009) It's probably much higher now, but still lower than Japan's.

the per capita argument is ludicrous and is not a basis for comparison on military budgets. but who cares about that since it makes japan seem more "militaristic." for a better comparison, you have to look at what each country is buying with it's budget. china's is mostly offensive weaponry while japan's is mostly defensive in nature. try again, takano san.

2 ( +4 / -3 )

“For the 69 years since the end of World War Two, we have built the present-day Japan based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace,”

Exactly and what has china done for the last 69 years? It's built on the lack of freedom , the lives, the blood and the repression of its own people.

I thought today we may have been lucky enough to escape this china japan feud on here but seems those who run JT cannot let a day go by without the feud being a headline here.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

All this squabbling over China's military is hilarious.

Facts are facts. China only spends about 1/6th of Japan's GDP per capita on military, and 1/28ths of America.

Why don't you complain that the US is spending about as much as the entire world's military spending COMBINED?

"Wah! I don't know what per capita means!" lol...

JoeBigs

You seem to have left South Korea out of there, I wonder why?

LOL. Everything has got to do with Korea with you, don't you? You're Korea obsessed. Just like the... you know.

-4 ( +6 / -10 )

China being hypocritical as always. Their annual defence budget has increased $100bn in just 10 years.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

“For the 69 years since the end of World War Two, we have built the present-day Japan based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace,”

Fair enough, Suga, but then why does your government want to change the constitution and repeal article 9? Why the increase in military spending for a nation that already spends so much on it and isn't even supposed to have a military to begin with? Why the secrecy law to prevent any criticism of such things and limiting freedom of speech?

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

"What does per capita mean? We'll that is simple...."

It is. But it's not what you seem to think it is....

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A interesting a fair way to measure deffense budget is to compare how much is spent per patrol area in other words, how much money per territorial and EEZ area combined.

If you divide the budget into the various arms of the military you'll see an even clearer picture.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

avigatorFeb. 17, 2014 - 11:56AM JST Eiji you have the right analysis. Gross numbers mean nothing. In 2013, Japan spent $400.00 and China spent $83.00 per capita.

What does "per capita" mean? Well, that is simple, how much people make on average. The argument that China is actually spending less because it's people make less is complete silliness.

The average Chinese makes around 9,000 dollars per year, so let's compare Communist China and other country who people make around the same. Per Capita Jamaica and Communist China are very close.

So, by using your theory let's see how much Communist China's Military budget should really be........

Jamaica's Military budget is $95,200,000....... But, Communist China's Military budget is $166,000,000,000, oh oh someone is spending way too much on their military!

2000 Communist China Military budget was under $20,000,000,000.

Exposing Porkies is easy, making people admit that they are telling them is a whole lot harder.

Communist China is trying to pacify Japan so it can have a free hand at taking everything it thinks it can.

JTDanManFeb. 17, 2014 - 12:07PM JST Interesting Chart on Defense Spending By Nation by GDP. China: 2% Japan: 1% US: 4% Now, we all know these three fudge the numbers a bit, but there they are.

So, you have proof that the US or Japan have been fudging there books? Please, by all means provide the proof.

Now, the only way you can say that for Communist China is if you were one of the members of the Politburo.

You seem to have left South Korea out of there, I wonder why?

-2 ( +5 / -6 )

Interesting Chart on Defense Spending By Nation by GDP.

http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS

China: 2% Japan: 1% US: 4%

Now, we all know these three fudge the numbers a bit, but there they are.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Eiji Takano

You have to be fair and say that China's military spending per capita is lower than that of Japan's.

United States 2,141 (2009) Japan 401 (2009) China 74.7 (2009)

It's probably much higher now, but still lower than Japan's.

Can you provide a clearer set of statistics, this is not clear. 401 per capita of what? Bananas? As JoeBiggs pointed out, China's military spending is 2% of its GDP, but planning on going to 4%, while Japan is 1% of its GDP. While we're on the subject, wouldn't China's high population reduce its per capita figures? That's what 'Per Capita' means right? Per person. Japan's population is about a tenth of China's, so that kind of skews the figures, don't you think? It's much easier to get a clear picture when you look at the actual money being spent. $166 billion is significantly higher than the $48 billion Japan is set to spend from April (if my source is accurate, which it might not be). Hmm, that's quite the difference. Yeah, I'm going to have to disagree with you here. A tiny defense budget, even with a small increase of 5%, is nothing compared to China's astronomical budget, with a double figure increase year on year for two decades.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Eiji you have the right analysis. Gross numbers mean nothing. In 2013, Japan spent $400.00 and China spent $83.00 per capita.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2014/02/12/275885249/global-military-spending-set-to-rise-in-2014

3 ( +6 / -4 )

Suga, did John Kerry tell you to make the comment?

-3 ( +7 / -10 )

Fox Cloud Lelean

Oh yes, Japan is really militaristic. Their defense spending is what? A twelfth of China's? A thirteenth? China has the second highest defense budget in the world. Do they even need it? Not for defense they don't. This quote just shows why China's criticism shouldn't be taken seriously.

You have to be fair and say that China's military spending per capita is lower than that of Japan's.

United States 2,141 (2009) Japan 401 (2009) China 74.7 (2009)

It's probably much higher now, but still lower than Japan's.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

For the 69 years since the end of World War Two, we have built the present-day Japan based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga

Can anyone of the pro-Communist China, pro-South Korean rhetoric or the plain Japan haters dispute this? Nope, okay.

They say that Japan is a military power but (the defense budget increase in the year to March) was just 0.8%, while China has kept increasing its defense budget by more than 10% annually for 20 years

Okay, how about this one? Nope, okay.

put history behind them

Japan has, can't say the same thing for ROK or CPC. Keeping the past alive is a great way of keeping your people focus on past problems and not on your own present ones.

Communist China's elites need to ensure that the people keep their anger away from them and at someone else. Same with the elite South Korean's.

Keep the people angry at someone else that way they won't see how things truly are.

criticism from China that Japan is lurching toward militarism

Wait a second there, if this isn't the biggest porky of them all!

Okay let's see who is being militaristic and who isn't

Communist China's PLA budget stands at 2% of it's GDP and estimates are that that budget will double by 2015. Yes Communist China is planning a budget of 4%.

Now, here is the kicker, in 2013 it increased it's budget by 10.7% that year. In 2000 the CPC's budget stood at $14.5 Billion dollars per year, now $166 billion. that is a pure sign of Militaristic goals.

Next South Korea and it's Military Budget, well it's not as large but it's budget is 2.7% of it's GDP. In 2012 it increased it's spending by $200 million.

Now, let talk about the Japanese Military budget. Ready to see how militaristic it is? Japan spends around 1% of it's GDP per year! Wait a second..... Only 1% of it's GDP and it's being called Militaristic?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

Gee, I wonder why the Communist are making this propaganda spin in the world's media?

Oh wait, that's right, let's see what Chairman Mao said Communist China's strategy's were suppose to be....

Passivity is fatal to us. Our goal is to make the enemy passive. Mao Zedong

Communism is not love. Communism is a hammer which we use to crush the enemy. Mao Zedong

Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed. Mao Zedong

These strategies are still being used, make Japan passive so Communist China can take what it wants.

Don't just blindly believe what you read or are told. Most posters here aren't part of the 50-cent Communist army. So you have the ability to actually look at the facts.

Look up the truth for your yourselves. The greatest weapon that will help you to defeat Communist rhetoric and aggression is free thinking and logic.

But when you win there they will raise arms against you, so you must be ready to meet them on that field.

-4 ( +6 / -9 )

“They say that Japan is a military power but (the defense budget increase in the year to March) was just 0.8%, while China has kept increasing its defense budget by more than 10% annually for 20 years,” Suga said. “To be called ‘militarist’ by such a country is completely off the mark.”

Oh yes, Japan is really militaristic. Their defense spending is what? A twelfth of China's? A thirteenth? China has the second highest defense budget in the world. Do they even need it? Not for defense they don't. This quote just shows why China's criticism shouldn't be taken seriously. It's a bit rich coming from them anyway, considering their past. Considering the genocide of their own people under Chairman Mao, considering their invasion of Tibet, Turkmenistan and the Uyghars, considering their territorial disputes with not just Japan, but with India, Vietnam, and I believe the Phillipines and Taiwan as well. Let's not also forget their unilaterally declared ADIZ, and their alliance with North Korea. Yes, very peace loving of China.

“China and South Korea are neighboring countries, so the door to dialogue is always open, and while stressing what we must stress, we want to deal with both countries calmly and from a broad perspective,” he said.

If only they would walk through that door and make the dialogue. Sadly, it seems unlikely to ever happen, given China and South Korea's refusal to let go of the past, to forgive and forget. One can always hope however.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Hypocrite China while they say they are for peace and stability, them Communist Central Party in Beijing is commiting genocide in Tibet. Stealing and claiming territories of other countries : India, Vietnam and the rest in Asia.

Japanese government and the Philippine government have signed a mutual defense pact, joint training with both navies. Interoperability in times of disaster and war.

At moments notice 2 countries will support each other thru military means and manpower.

1 ( +6 / -4 )

Japan is building. The world sees it.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

Yoshihide Suga forgot there is unfinished business between China and Japan on Japanese committed atrocities during war.

-6 ( +6 / -13 )

Not militarism. Defensism AArticle 9 hasn;t been repealed.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

These so called "militarists" like Abe are nothing but "servile" adherents of the US. They are just doing whatever they're being told by the US, and hence the strong emphasis on keeping the US-Japan relation. It is in fact US that wants Japan to militarize so that they don't have to keep "taking care" of Japan.

-4 ( +7 / -11 )

Suga is a liar. Period.

2 ( +10 / -8 )

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s most influential aide has rejected criticism from China that Japan is lurching toward militarism and said Tokyo would keep seeking dialogue with both Beijing and Seoul

Clearly both China and Japan are edging toward nationalism/militarism — pot meet kettle.

1 ( +7 / -5 )

It is a historical fact that China, Korea and Southeast Asia have deep and painful memories of Japanese militarism.The Japanese have long taken pride in their unique post-war constitution in which Japan renounces the right to wage war and are unlikely to give it up or allow sweeping revisions to it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Japan will have gone off the rails once we see masses of Chinese being deported from the country without sound reason, but as the situation stands there are loads of young Chinese, choosing to live in Japan rather than their home nation where the economy is growing and presumably opportunities abound.

Why would any Chinese be living in Japan under such circumstances if Japan was going crazy?

3 ( +7 / -4 )

69 years had passed since the end of the war. Japan, from a country who were involved in wars turn to be a pacific and prosperous nation in Asia. Meanwhile, the "winners" China and Korea still kept their lives in the past, and they, didn't solved their domestic issues regarding poverty and misery.

Some will argue that China and Korea had a significant progress. Yes, I agree in parts; however, it would not be possible without foreigner investment including Japanese financial contribution. Until 1965 Korea was like China living in very bad conditions, and thanks to President Park who used the money donation given by the Japanese government to invest in infrastructure the modern Korea turn to be a better nation. Yes, there are poverty in Korea yet, but comparable to 50 ago, Korea is much better than back in those days.

Now, how about China? Well... Many big cities in China become better and the rest of the countryside kept the same as it was back in 1960 and 50s. In other words, comparable to Korea and Japan, China has a lot more to work on her domestic issues. But, you know, I don't think China can solve this problem without Japanese contribution that has given to China since 1972. However, if China want to develop her countryside + the big cities number of slums and poor without Japanese help(things that is hard to happen), she needs to focus more on her nation and forget about Japan and history involving these nations.

Japanese don't hate Koreans and Chinese as their media try to tell their citizens. There are a lot of opportunities to them to work in Japan and enjoy freedom and prosperity in Japan. Koreans and Chinese should stop using past issues as a way to justify their hatred towards Japan. Leave this problem with your grandparents and great-grandparents to deal with it and live your lives and start thinking more about your future. That is the advice I can give to you Koreans and Chinese.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Charges of democratic Japan with it's USD 56 Bil military budget "returning to militarism" coming from the communist dictatorship China with it's USD 166 Bil military budget are just not credible. Especially since nearly all countries in Asia consider China to be a threat, but not Japan. And China is the only country that openly talks about preparing for war.

1 ( +16 / -14 )

Even if they do try, my hope is that they will be ineffective in implementing it as they are with all reforms. Most likely in the form of slightly weird AC style TV commercials with a badly named mascot with a name based on NATIONALISM: Ash-holeism, or Ash-holey or just Ashley. for example.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

What I find interesting is that while governments continue the blame game and are talking bad about each other, Japanese are marrying Koreans, Koreans marrying Japanese, etc. Chinese freely and happily living and working in Japan and vise versa, people enjoying freindships of each country. When will governments learn from us 'normal, average' people. You know the ones who pay your salaries!

20 ( +25 / -5 )

Slumdog, high five! As usual, China being hypocrite!

0 ( +16 / -16 )

“For the 69 years since the end of World War Two, we have built the present-day Japan based on the notions of freedom, democracy and peace,”

Suga has a point. When people look at Japan, they should not restricted by narrowing down to a relatively short segment of Japan led by Abe’s admin, which is apparently anti-democracy and nationalistic. Suga should take note that Japan’s 69 years of freedom, democracy and peace could be at risk if current admin continues showing little contrition on Japan’s war-time atrocities and passing laws to restrict the right to freedom of expression.

The U.S.-Japan relationship is not wavering,” Suga said.

Well, it depends on what Japan has done and will do, I think that the US is capable to make its own decision regarding the shape and format of U.S.-Japan relationship.

1 ( +12 / -11 )

“They say that Japan is a military power but (the defense budget increase in the year to March) was just 0.8%, while China has kept increasing its defense budget by more than 10% annually for 20 years,” Suga said. “To be called ‘militarist’ by such a country is completely off the mark.”

Excellent point, not to mention the fact that Japan has not attacked or invaded any other country, or killed its own people just for protesting during the last 69 years. Would that China could say the same.

1 ( +19 / -18 )

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