politics

U.S. urges Japan to consider sanctions on Russia if Ukraine invaded

63 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

63 Comments
Login to comment

Japan will have ask the Miramar Junta first, then way up its Russian investments, check if that would effect its Chinese business plan, it would be throwing Taiwan under the bus if it did nothing about the Ukrainian situation. But business first. I suggest a panel to be formed to weigh up the pros and cons of supporting a democracy under threat by a totalitarian state with little financial gain Vs monetary gain and a nod to a totalitarian aggressive neighbour. I wonder what Japan Inc will tell the government what to do?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Depending on the US the way Japan does is like a small shop owner paying a local thug to protect the shop. And that local thug regularly goes around picking fights with all the rival thugs, telling them all "My local shop owner stands by me! You can find me there!"

The US extracts a heavy price for its protection racket.

15 ( +23 / -8 )

Commanteer,people do not accept responsibility for their country, we want to extract punishment for Putin aiding Trump, by the way Russia dispatched nuclear bomber, as flecked jester of weakness Google Russian Nuclear Bombers Belarus

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

The U.S. almost went Nuke when Russia deployed long range possibly nuclear missiles in Cuba, so why is it okay for NATO to edge ever closer and closer to Moscow with 10's of thousands of troops, war machines, and Nuclear missile?? Russia is extremely nervous about Ukraine joining NATO and having U.S. troops next door and will stop it at any cost by the look of it.

7 ( +14 / -7 )

we want to extract punishment for Putin aiding Trump,

Oh that’s it, I forgot about that. Total Bingo on that one! Right on man! So glad you’re exposing the truth when every single MSM and Washington DC investigation couldn’t find anything.

-2 ( +6 / -8 )

Tell anyone that Japan's constitution prohibits the nation to wage war to solve international disputes. And so Japan cannot go to war to help Ukraine.

Article 9 of the constitution goes as follows:

"Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.

In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. the right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized."

This is indeed a beautiful and sublime ideal for all nations to emulate.

Right-winger politicians, spearheaded by the late Shintaro Ishihara as well as the late former Prime Minister Hiroyasu Nakasone, want the constitution to be scrapped or revised, saying Japan must defend itself from threats abroad. But it must be the U.S. side, more than anyone else, that want Japan to revise the constitution so that it could fight a foreign war along with it.

Right-winger politicians should discuss what to do about this superfluous U.S. military presence first before they ever mention the constitutional revision.

-3 ( +6 / -9 )

Japan should not get involved at all. NATO, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation should not be present on the borders of Russia. Finland and Sweden are not NATO members. Additionally Ukraine is historically, a part of Russia. Japan must NOT sanction.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

Japan needs not be dragged into this debacle…Japans need to maintain independence in issues Biden gets involved in is vital.

Although I can see Biden’s State Department putting pressure on to get their way! Stand strong Japan!

6 ( +11 / -5 )

The Soviet Union agreed to the German reunification on condition that NATO might expand eastward but stop short of Ukraine, which was traditionally part of Russian sphere of influence. The West has no right to be there.

7 ( +11 / -4 )

you’re exposing the truth when every single MSM and Washington DC investigation couldn’t find anything.

Not surprisingly the MSM is used as evidence, in this case would that be 'proof'.

I've never read anywhere that investigations couldn't find anything'. Could it be once again 'truth' was lacking in the above post, or that the putative evidence used came from what some call the 'real media'. if the so-called 'real media was used to provide evidence, a link would be helpful. Perhaps the evidence could have come from a source claiming alien reptiles put chips in vaccines, and the vaccines magnetize people thereby making farm animal deworming medications superior to big-pharma's jabs.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

They won't. Japan is always in a "difficult position" that the rest of the world seems not to be in. So, they'll say something like, "We stand with the US and other nations in condemning Russia's attack on Ukraine, and we support the sanctions, but we ask Russia not to be upset with Japan, and will not add any sanctions ourselves."

They're STILL working with the Junta in Myanmar after saying they are against what they did, asked to be exempted from sanctions against countries importing oil and what not from Iran, want an end to nuclear weapons but won't sign a ban against them, and heck, even with the Olympics they "are against CHina's human rights abuses, but will still send a full athletic delegate because Japan is in a tough position".

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Japan should stay out of this mess that NATO created.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

Why is Biden trying to drag Japan into all of his nonsense all of a sudden?

once the new Ambassador came (after almost 2 years of being vacant) did he realize Japan actually exists or something?

3 ( +11 / -8 )

Uh, Japan went to war because of economic sanctions 80 years ago.

Sanctions and embargoes are acts of war.

7 ( +10 / -3 )

The United States has urged Japan to consider imposing economic sanctions on Moscow if Russian troops invade Ukraine, diplomatic sources said Saturday. Japan, however, has deferred its response to the U.S. request, fearing the possible ramifications on relations with Russia and bilateral issues, including a long-standing territorial dispute that Tokyo is seeking a breakthrough on, the sources said.

A a perfect example of "real-politic" and the feckless nature of the LDP and most of Japan's governments...

One of the first things Japan's leaders request of a new US President or Ambassador is that they say openly that Art 5 of the US-Japan Security Treaty applies to the Senkakus - which means if China invades, the US considers it an attack on Japan and will come to Japan's defense...

It doesn't matter how many times this has been said in the past, the Japanese government always begs for it to be said again and again...

Yet here we have Japan being requested not to provide forces, but to merely assist with economic sanctions against Russia if it invades Ukraine...and they stall, worried it offend Russia and it's efforts to regain control of the northern territories...

It contributes to the view by other countries, especially those here in Asia, that Japan's foreign policy is weak and timid - and renews questions in the US as to how reliable a security partner Japan is....

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Watching with “interest” has been officially amended especially for the Biden administration:

Watching with “grave concern”.

LOL.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

So, is the US suggesting it be sanctioned for invading Syria and Iraq?

The Israeli regime sanctioned for invading Lebanon, Syria, Egypt, Palestine?

For not withdrawing troops from Russia's border (Alaska)?

And what, exactly, is its plan to ensure Japan's gas supply in the case of the ultraextremists its regime in Ukraine force the shutdown of the transUkrainian pipeline and the US diverts all LNG shipping to supply Europe?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

why is it okay for NATO to edge ever closer and closer to Moscow with 10's of thousands of troops, war machines, and Nuclear missile??

The ex Soviet states had decades with Russia and have decided that they want to be with EU and NATO. It is as much Russia's fault for not holding onto "friends" as it is Western Europe for being a more desirable partner. No Nuclear missiles are getting closer to Russia. They remain in storage on US bases and have not moved an inch.

Russia is extremely nervous about Ukraine joining NATO and having U.S. troops next door and will stop it at any cost by the look of it.

Then Russia has missed the boat as two bordering nations have already joined NATO and wow no 10's of thousands of additional troops on Russia's border. But for some unexplained reason they believe the Ukraine will be different?

Russia's real reason is that with its theft of Ukraine territory, once Ukraine joins NATO it will demand Crimea back and that worries the hell out of Putin. Facing off against a weaker nation in Ukraine is one thing but a united 30 nation NATO is entirely another.

-1 ( +5 / -6 )

Ukraine is historically, a part of Russia.

Funny that Ukrainians themselves do not agree with that statement.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

Washington hopes to rally Japan and other countries that uphold the rule of law in pressuring Moscow not to move in on Ukraine

If Washington recognizes the rule of law what are they doing in Iraq and Syria?

4 ( +8 / -4 )

The Ukraine has a right to determine it's own future. If the Ukranian people wish to join NATO why should Russia be allowed to dictate what another sovereign country can or cannot do?

If Japan thinks that by refusing to join the West in sanctioning Russia they will get some reciprocal good will in return from Russia as regards the disputed 4 islands or a Peace Treaty, they are fooling themselves. Russia's position will be the same whether Japan joins the sanctions or not.

It would be infinitely smarter for Japan to amend the first paragraph of Article 9 to allow the use of military force to settle territorial disputes, and be prepared to take back the 4 stolen islands in case a US-Russian war goes hot. In such a case the US would fully support Japan.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

Yes, Biden shouldn’t drag Japan into this mess but...

The US could’ve invaded Japan but chose not to. “ It would’ve been the end of Japan “, they said. That gives the US a huge amount of political power over Japan ( and they accepted this reality ). If we think about it, the Japanese really swallowed their pride.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Hello Kitty 321Today  11:14 am JST

Washington hopes to rally Japan and other countries that uphold the rule of law in pressuring Moscow not to move in on Ukraine

If Washington recognizes the rule of law what are they doing in Iraq and Syria?

The US has less than 1000 troops in Iraq and Syria each at the request of the respective governments.

Russia has 100,000 troops ready to invade the Ukraine which does not want to be invaded.

Can you understand the difference?

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

Best practice, play a waiting game.

Let the Russian Government make the first move Smart of the J Government not to jump in with both feet.

The Counties and States destined to be more adversely affected from a prolonged military conflict will lead with the threats of sanctions.

J Government position is wait and see.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

The US has less than 1000 troops in Iraq and Syria each at the request of the respective governments.

You might want to check your facts

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Sanctions and embargoes are acts of war.

"sanctions and embargoes are acts of war, according to which source?

I have heard 'blockades' might be considered acts of war.

https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/blockade/

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

President George W. Bush and UK Prime Minister Tony Blair war in Iraq, the the devastating War in Afghanistan should have signaled that invasion and the subsequent devastating loss of light to hundreds of thousands of innocent families, civilians would prompt the global community to wake up and take heed.

No, President Putin is hell bent on a course of action that could ultimately make both wars pale into insignificance.

J Government should call for caution, and as a nation devoted peace, though some politicians yearn for a more revisionist agenda, suggest a moment of reflection.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

The US extracts a heavy price for its protection racket.

Trump's fractals seem to think along the lines of criminal gangs similar to the the way their mob boss does.

Speaking of protection racket, what are/were Russian forces doing in Kazakhstan, Syria and Libya.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Japan the US puppet, we all know.

US strategy to sell oil and gas to other countries

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Vladimir Putin warns the neocons to stop destabilizing nations:

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he will not allow governments allied with Moscow to be toppled in so-called “color revolutions,” a reference to the series of popular uprisings that have shaken former Soviet republics.

“We will not allow the boat to be rocked,” Putin said.

During an online meeting with leaders of a Russian-led collective security alliance, Putin blamed last week’s violent unrest in Kazakhstan on “destructive internal and external forces.” He added, “Of course, we understand the events in Kazakhstan are not the first and far from the last attempt to interfere in the internal affairs of our states from the outside.”

It just became a lot more safe to ally with Russia and China than to remain unaligned. Especially since China is fully onboard with the anti-neocon approach.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday afternoon, stressing the further deepening of “back-to-back” strategic coordination in upholding international fairness and justice and adhering to the four consensuses in supporting each other’s sovereignty, security and development interests to better tackle external interference and regional threats, as they exchanged views on a series of major issues regarding global strategic security and stability.

And, of course, there is nothing more dangerously unstable than to be an ally of the declining imperial power, the so-called 'USA'.

0 ( +6 / -6 )

I sure hope they don’t intend on using that hand-on-shoulder stack formation outside of urban environments.

In an open environment, It’s a good way to get your entire squad shwacked by a few machine-gun bursts.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday he will not allow governments allied with Moscow to be toppled

Translates to we will not allow democracy or the will of the majority to topple Russian aligned governments.

It just became a lot more safe to ally with Russia and China than to remain unaligned. Especially since China is fully onboard with the anti-neocon approach.

Join the Autocrat or the Despot or we will be angry at you and you will pay the price for your freedom from oppression.

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday afternoon, stressing the further deepening of “back-to-back” strategic coordination in upholding international fairness and justice

A meaningless statement from the Despot with zero understanding of fairness or justice. Do as he says, not as he does. He is special and allowed to do what you are not.

And, of course, there is nothing more dangerously unstable than to be an ally of the declining imperial power, the so-called 'USA'.

Well that always depends on whom is president at the time. Under Biden the US is much more predictable and stable than the previous leader. But no more dangerous than aligning with China or Russia which always also have their own demands on "friends".

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

Biden wants to sell gas to Europe and raise his popularity at the same time at home.

But why drag with himself down Japan?

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Japan is free to take what ever actions it deems appropriate, whether suggested by an ally or not.

But having hopes of progress on the return of four islands Russia now considers their own being tied to any other issue is not logical. Russia will never ever return those four islands regardless of Japanese sanctions against Russia should it invade a sovereign Ukraine. Suggesting otherwise is unrealistic.

Russia will keep the Crimea with the same determination to hold what it has taken off someone else as it does with the Northern Territories.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

The US has less than 1000 troops in Iraq and Syria each at the request of the respective governments.

The Syrian government emphatically did not request the presence of US forces in Syria. They came there to fight Daesh and to assist their YPG allies. There is no official number of US forces in Syria but it is often thought to be around 900 not counting air power coming from UAE and from US ships at sea. The US currently is authorized 2500 troops in Iraq.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

If we think about it, the Japanese really swallowed their pride.

The US was the only country in modern times to defeat the Japanese. Japan beat Russia, China, Korea, and early in WWII defeated British, French and Dutch forces soundly running them out of their colonies in east Asia. The Brits surrendered Singapore without a fight even though they outnumbered the attacking Japanese force. But after Pearl Harbor the Japanese never won again. It was just a long grind chipping away at their empire until US and other Allied forces fresh off defeating Hitler were knocking on the door in Japan itself.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The US still think to be that super power from the 70es and 80es which isn’t anymore.

I wonder what if Russia would have asked to install missiles in Canada and Mexico,would the US government accept that?

Furthermore many NATO countries,Germany first is reluctant to a conflict against Russia.

We don’t need a country playing the world police,for this reason we have the United Nations.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Best for Japan to stay away from the Ukraine issue and not imposing sanctions on Russia.

Putin supports China's claims to Taiwan .

Biden is starting a war he can't win.

USA should focus on getting their act together at home and not continue pretending to be the world leader.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

"sanctions and embargoes are acts of war, according to which source?

According to me.

If someone on the other side of town was able to deny you use of your bank account or any financial transactions, keep you from going to work or earn income, keep you from buying food, etc., you'd consider it an act of war.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

There's no Russian invasion, there never was one except it be in the heads of those warmongers, installed in Washington & London to ignite wars all around the world.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Putin controls the valves of energy, he is always one step ahead of the US. If US isn't afraid of cripple Europe or even the global economy, neither is Putin. He has nothing to lose anyway, it's not like Russia is an industrial or trade powerhouse or anything. So stop rattling those toothless sanctions

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I haven't heard anything yet about sanctions US will impose.

Maybe they should show everyone first what it is they intend to do

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Seems Putin is pressuring US and allies to see what they're really capable of

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Not a good look that US looked to Japan and Japan just shrugged off

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

marcelitoToday  02:36 pm JST

Nice misinformation. Just when exactly did Assad request the US troop presence?

The US does not recognize Assad as the legimate ruler of Syria.

"The Syrian Opposition Coalition is now inclusive enough, is reflective and representative enough of the Syrian population that we consider them the legitimate representative of the Syrian people in opposition to the Assad regime.” US Secretary of State.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Just to understand your position @zichi 8:58pm: Are you, one this occasion, advocating ‘U.S. intervention as a reason to help protect the ‘European’ (a general term, including the U.K., post Brexit) and Japan’s markets and interests?

*- @zichi 8:58pm: [responding to @bass4funk 7:58pm: {what should your country do?} Stay out of it.]*

*“… and when Putin invades, hit with severe sanctions, cuts the gas and oil to Europe hitting the markets which will include the American ones too.*

Followed by China invades Taiwan so you think your country should stay out of that too?

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

I wonder what if Russia would have asked to install missiles in Canada and Mexico,would the US government accept that?

Dont worry about the US, both Mexico and Canada would object to that.

Perhaps the US should ask Estonia and Latvia to allow it to base nukes there on Russia's border. Both are NATO members. A couple of big US bases there would go nicely. No need to base them in Ukraine at all.

We don’t need a country playing the world police,for this reason we have the United Nations.

The UN is unfortunately unable to function while five different nations have veto powers in the UN security council. Time for a new world body with no veto's.

Biden is starting a war he can't win.

Except it is Putin starting a war.

Best for Japan to stay away from the Ukraine issue and not imposing sanctions on Russia.

Russia would love for the world to take no action if it invades Ukraine. The world must show Russia the error of invasion by unified sanctions from the free world including Japan, in the event that Russia does invade Ukraine. If there is no invasion then Russia need not fear any new sanctions.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Why does the US have to drag everyone it can into its pathetic interventionist rhetoric??..

The farthest you can be from the US, the best for any country..

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Why does the US have to drag everyone it can into its pathetic interventionist rhetoric??..

Would you prefer the US remained silent and Russia attacked a sovereign nation? Yeah it's far away.....now...... but if the history leading up to WWII is valid the world is better off challenging and stopping aggressors like Russia and China early on before they take a lot of other people's territory. How different the world might have been if the Europeans had stood together and prevented Hitler from taking Czechoslovakia, Austria and Poland. How different the world would have been had the US had the means to challenge Japan in China before they could sweep through the rest of Asia. No instead the many non involved nations looked away and before you knew it Hitler was in France, Russia and North Africa and Japan was sweeping through Singapore on their way into Burma. All those non-involved nations who looked way found themselves being attacked. That is why the US forward deploys its military and tries to counter territorial aggressions early before they snowball into a costly and preventable war.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

The world doesn’t have a world leader when the 45th left so the mice are out to play. Russia is literally telling NATO to commit $u!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Russian Embassador to Japan said that Japan imposing sanctions would be "counter-productive" - sort of dangling a carrot that the northern island issue may perhaps be resolved in a non-counter-productive environment - forget it - Russia is never gonna give up those islands. How about this? - if Russian invades the Ukraine - Japan take back the islands by force - Russia has concentrated forces on the border of the Ukraine - Russia would not expect it (likely) - Japan has excellent military capabilities and would likely take the islands very quickly - Article 9 would not be an issue - it's Japan. There is no peace treaty between Japan and Russia - It would also send a message about Japanese resolve to the Americans, The Chinese, the bad-hair-cut-guy in N. Korea...could Russia retaliate? - sure...but then the US would be directly involved (and likely NATO) and the Russian forces involved in the invasion of the Ukraine would suddenly have a far bigger problem on their hands - Hitler had a war on 2 fronts - that didn't work out - I would even likely say that Russia's own military might over-throw Putin - I think Russia and China would be taken completely off-guard...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The US does not recognize Assad as the legimate ruler of Syria".

What a super convenient line of thinking....so essentially US can say they don't recognize country XYZ regime and send the military in on a request from an alternate "legitimate representative government " of their making

Nope. The US position is that the people of Syria ought to choose their leadership through competitive elections and not have them jammed down their throats by brute force as they have been since Syria's independence. This is why the US maintains that the Assad regime is not the legitimate government of Syria.

US forces are not in Syria to install a government there. US forces are only in Syria, along with UK and other forces, to fight Daesh. US and other allied nations have been very careful not to engage Syrian, Russian, Iranian or Hezbollah forces there in support of Assad. They have confined themselves to attacking Daesh targets. There was a single instance of Russian mercenaries and Syrian government forces attacking a US Army outpost defending a Kurdish run gas plant. That attack didn't turn out very well for the Syrians and especially for the Russian mercenaries who suffered heavy losses without inflicting any losses on the US side. That was about four years ago and there have been no repeats.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@nukkuheddo, the JSDF has no ability to mount an amphibious assault in the Kuriles and if Japan did so on its own the US would be under no obligation to defend Japan from the Russian counter attack. The mutual defense treaty between the US and Japan does not oblige either nation to come to the others aid if one of the signatories initiates a war. It is strictly an alliance of mutual defense where if one party is attacked the other is obliged to come to their aid.

I understand what you are saying. If the US was maybe less timid (more stupid ?) it would commit to the use of mass air power to assist Ukrainian forces defending against a Russian assault (possibly risking total war with Russia). But the US could very much mount an amphibious assault on the Kuriles if Russia attacked Ukraine and the Russians with much of their army and air power committed to the Ukraine wouldn't have much ability to defend against such an attack other than to launch a nuclear attack on the US. You see where this sort of thing goes. This sort of stuff is for fanboi fantasies. The best thing Japan can do is to fully participate in any sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU and US.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The US position is that the people of Syria ought to choose their leadership through competitive elections and not have them jammed down their throats by brute force…

There are 50 dictatorships in the world (19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 12 in the Middle East and North Africa, 8 in Asia-Pacific, 7 in Eurasia, 3 in Americas and 1 in Europe).

The US better get going and start sending troops to them. Hey, start by sending troops to China and see how that goes,

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Desert Tortoise...I see your point about if Japan attacks the bilateral agreement doen't hold...fair enough...you know more about it than I do...

regarding JSDF capability...I took a boat tour around Kure near Hiroshima a couple years ago...I was blown away...I have photos somewhere...a flat top (guess'n being re-fitted for F-35's...two big ships with massive back doors for launching hover-crafts...couple Aegis cruisers...dunno...8 or so subs...various other types of war-ships...just one port...guess'n an island nation like Japan would prioritize amphibious capability or? I have no military backgound other than historical interest...

But I do get your point & I enjoy your posts...

0 ( +0 / -0 )

There are 50 dictatorships in the world (19 in Sub-Saharan Africa, 12 in the Middle East and North Africa, 8 in Asia-Pacific, 7 in Eurasia, 3 in Americas and 1 in Europe).

The US better get going and start sending troops to them. Hey, start by sending troops to China and see how that goes,

The US doesn't have forces in Syria to affect the outcome of their civil war. They are not there to overthrow a dictator as you posit. The US has forces on both sides of the Syria / Iraq border to defeat Daesh and stop a terrorist group from getting established in Syria and Iraq as they were briefly when they had a "caliphate" stretching from Mosul and Kirkuk across to northern Syria. The genocide of the Yazidis was what pulled the US in. I guess you object to that too?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

regarding JSDF capability...I took a boat tour around Kure near Hiroshima a couple years ago...I was blown away...I have photos somewhere...a flat top (guess'n being re-fitted for F-35's...two big ships with massive back doors for launching hover-crafts...couple Aegis cruisers...dunno...8 or so subs...various other types of war-ships...just one port...guess'n an island nation like Japan would prioritize amphibious capability or? I have no military backgound other than historical interest...

I have sailed in a JMSDF formation. Our ship was provided to the Japanese formation as their logistics ship. They are one of the best equipped navies in the world. Their submarines and destroyers are the best of their kind in the world. We always considered a Japanese diesel sub the next best thing to a US or British nuclear sub, and better in some most ways than most other nation's nuclear subs. I have been on ships of many navies and Japan's are every bit as good as those of the US Navy, and better than the RN (oh my !).

But, due to regional sensitivities, memories of Japanese conquests in WWII, JSDF lacks specific capabilities it would need to be able to deploy away from their home bases. The JASDF has their support equipment built into hardstands on their flight lines. They do not have the portable support equipment the USAF has that can be loaded into an airplane and taken to an overseas base. They don't have the equipment to set up expeditionary air bases (think Marsden matting runways, portable air traffic control towers and portable instrument approach equipment). The JASDF doesn't have large numbers of heavy transport aircraft necessary for big troop movements. The C-2 is good but there aren't that many of them.

The JMSDF doesn't have a land attack missile of any kind. They can bang away with a deck gun but that puts the ship much too close to enemy cruise missile batteries ashore. Only one of those big flattops is currently equipped to carry the F-35B (they were built as "Helicopter Destroyers" to avoid calling them an aircraft carrier, and only carried helos). They have very few logistics ships necessary to support operations far from home bases and until this year no organic air cover so the fleet is tied to the home islands or deploying with US forces. There are only three Osumi Class landing ships you saw with docking wells for landing craft. Each carries 330 troops, so all three can carry about a battalion. Not much if you are making an opposed landing. They are good for reinforcing small islands Japan already controls but not much for taking somebody else's islands. What the JMSDF is really good at is anti submarine warfare. Probably only the US Navy has better ASW resources than the JMSDF.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Desert Tortoise - I guess you are a mikitary consultant or US military?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Login to leave a comment

Facebook users

Use your Facebook account to login or register with JapanToday. By doing so, you will also receive an email inviting you to receive our news alerts.

Facebook Connect

Login with your JapanToday account

User registration

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites