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© 2014 AFPU.S. backs more active security role for Japan: Hagel
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© 2014 AFP
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MGigante
Of course. A stronger Japan is great for the region. The Philippines, Malaysia, and Vietnam (most of ASEAN, really) recognize this, too.
Asianhometown
Obama is making another huge mistake of allowing Japan to rearm. It will not bring peace to East Asia but an arms race.
gokai_wo_maneku
This is mainly because the US armed forces are not worth much, as we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are so hard up for recruits that they are now taking illegal aliens. Retired generals say young Americans are too fat and stupid (only 70% read at a 10th grade level, and can't read manuals for deadly weaponary). And the US is broke and can't afford the military. The Greatest Generation knocked out two empiresin 5 years (with help from Russia of course), but after more than 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan....
Jessenstein
It seems as though China's unbridled aggression will give Japan the support it needs to unshackle its military without a huge uproar from its other neighbors. I think the US is wise in welcoming the inevitable and working with it, not against it. The 'us vs you' mentality of the Chinese makes it too hard to keep it in check without a strong alliance filling the "you" part.
Though that's just based on my personal observation..
CrazyJoe
If Tokyo can engage the rest of Asia in some new security arrangement that leaves it as peaceful for the next 20 years as it has been for the past 20, so much the better. But the rise of rightism in Japan, and its creeping influence on policy, does pose a problem for both the United States and Japan's neighbors.
superbird1
@gokai_wo_maneku
Now that is some serious "I really want it to be true" Fiction right there!!! I applaud you sir/madam.
hennoteika
"Following Japan’s surrender in 1945, its SDF has not fired a single shot in battle."
I was gonna say o-no-dera..
..but I believe Pentagon and BOEI shaking hands is like Glycerin and Nitro not having a bad reaction. Difficult.
Olympic Security sure will be tight in Tokyo.
some14some
This group will not recognize rather oppose if at all Japan becomes a Military State..
kaimycahl
@ gokai_wo_maneku at Jun. 01, 2014 - 08:53AM JST This is mainly because the US armed forces are not worth much, as we have seen in Iraq and Afghanistan. They are so hard up for recruits that they are now taking illegal aliens. Retired generals say young Americans are too fat and stupid (only 70% read at a 10th grade level, and can't read manuals for deadly weaponary). And the US is broke and can't afford the military. The Greatest Generation knocked out two empiresin 5 years (with help from Russia of course), but after more than 10 years in Iraq and Afghanistan....
Wow do you believe everything you hear or read. First off illegal aliens can't read or speak English so your belief in that nonsense that you read don't make sense. Actually most wars will not be won on the battle field and most people who will these wars or use the "advance weapons" will be college graduate located some where behind a computer monitor we see that right now with the use of unmanned vehicles such as drone and tanks. Having illegals come to the US is a entire different reason and issue. My advice think twice!
OldHawk
At the same conference, Hagel had strong words for China and its intimidation tactics over the disputed islands, surprising the China's Lieutenant-General Wang Guanzhong. On the surface, Hagel's strong promise to defend Japan from China's aggression is a bit surprising, but when you remember that this administration can't draw a red line in the sand and stick to it, you can't expect much from it drawing a red line in the water.
souka
seems to me that the US has no choice but to counter China's uncertain actions through any means possible which also includes supporting Japan's pro-active role in this area,,despite some remaining sensitive issues that still going on between Japan and its neighbours...europe for the most part can now move forward even without the US, but i think asia still really need the US around..without US support, i cannot see how can countries move forward together and perhaps trust each other...
indianpower
China had gone insane by its growing power. Japan, Vietnam, Southkorea, Phillipines, Taiwan, India should form a block to stop china with these sort of activities. India is a massive power house that can stop china and India is a friendly nation to Japan. China wants to increase its borders everywhere, they have problem with Japan, Vietnam, Phillipines, India.
CGB Spender
@souka You forget to regard the small difference that in Europe there is no huge country with the biggest population in the world and with a corruptive, freedom-suppressing, authoritan government, which unilaterally decides to grab some large slices of territory for itself and then is infuriated by any neighbor that tries to stand up to their aggressive expansionist plans! Please not that these traits don't have much to do with the history between Japan and China either.
FizzBit
This reminds me of Michael Moore's "Canadian Bacon" movie with John Candy. "Michael Moore wrote the screenplay during the first Gulf War, in reaction to what he felt was the US government's manipulation of the media in supporting Operation Desert Storm."
kenjiooi
<><>Jessenstein June 1st Your remark- China's unbriddled aggression will give Japan the supoport it needs to unshackle its military without much uproar from its neighbouring countries-is what Mr. Abe has been taking advantage of to manipulate public opinion in the direction for accepting the excersing of the right to collective self-defence. Whatever message he hammers out vis-a-vis East Asis in an effort to justify resrting to the right, he will have his work cut out for him; what he is after is to re-interpret the No-War clause of the constitution in such a way as to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defence and that with one dicision to approve of it at a Cabinet meeting, giving away his mind-set that now that he has won two-thirds of the seats in the Lower House, he can pull the majarity numbers game on the opposition and get everything his own way. He was made to realize the difficulty of amending the constitution by going the way of constitutionalism. What he is trying to do is to hijack the constitution.
gokai_wo_maneku
Some people don't believe my comment above. All of this is from the Drudge Report, which i take a look at every morning. The links are all to reputable news services. Or just Google "military accept illegal aliens" and you can get the story. It relates to the "Dream Act". Same with the weight and reading problems. It is all there.
OldHawk
souka:
It seems in Asia, grudges are held longer. China still complains about Japan's actions 80 years ago (mostly to garner sympathy on the world stage, I suspect), while it is simultaneously making steps to repeat those very same actions against it neighbors now.
OssanAmerica
This group presently opposes China which is ALREADY a military state.
kaimycahl
@ gokai_wo_maneku Some people don't believe my comment above. All of this is from the Drudge Report, which i take a look at every morning. The links are all to reputable news services. Or just Google "military accept illegal aliens" and you can get the story. It relates to the "Dream Act". Same with the weight and reading problems. It is all there.
All I am saying is don't believe everything you read! I say this because I know not from reading but being in the mix thats all I can say. The new military is geared for college educated people to operated advanced weaponry illegals just don't cut it! If anything they will just go to the front lines and be cannon fodder in small infantry troops. Sorry to say if they make it back they can get citizenship but the high probability is unlikely. Understand the twisted scenario