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© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.UK, Japan sign defense agreement allowing troop deployments
By JILL LAWLESS LONDON©2025 GPlusMedia Inc.
52 Comments
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obladi
Do Japanese troops know how to fight? I'm serious. They might need a refresher...
Fighto!
Nice to see.
Terror states fascist Russia and Communist China had better realize that the powers of the free world are united against them.
Moonraker
The main picture looks like a cosplay set. With two people cosplaying prime ministers.
rcch
Fumio, Fumio…; you’re getting too excited…; (…)
Meiyouwenti
Britain has few outposts left in the Indo-Pacific region and is too far away from Japan to be a reliable ally. The new military ties are just symbolism without substance.
cenobite
Does that mean I’ll overhear,
” I wouldn’t ‘arf fancy a cuppa, I can tell ya’
and the such, when I’m walking around Okinawa now …
Nippori Nick
The Beefeaters need new uniforms. Why do they do they still have ER on them? Should be CR.
Nippori Nick
In Victorian times they had the largest empire the world has ever seen. I would call that a nice recovery.
dan
Hilarious!!
kurisupisu
Kishida’s main goal seems to be sightseeing.
All these pacts have already been decided so his presence is superfluous.
And to all those imaging that the UK is not influential in the world are seriously mistaken.
The UK and it’s businesses are major world investors.
Abe234
Oh pleeeeeeeaaaaaase!!!!! Japan won’t send a solid soldier, pilot or ship to help the UK. This is soooo one sided, and is basically Japan wanting more protection from NATO. Eg the USA and now, the UK. Japan, if it did deploy anyone would argue about which cooks, or office staff to send, cause if it’s anything like the Falklands war and the USA, I wouldn’t expect much apart from lots of meetings, and chyoto muzukashi! And maybe some manga or anime characters painted on the side of a couple of helicopters.
japan even had an argument about sending troops to save British troops if they came under attack post gulf war and couldn’t even agree to send machine guns to protect their own troops! Nope! Let’s remember even Kuwait refused to thank Japan.
OssanAmerica
Britain and Japan haven't had a military aliance since 1902. But it came in very handy for Japan during the 1904/5 Russo-Japanese War. Japan now has military agreements with the US, Australia and UK.
Michael Machida
Japan holds the presidency of the G7 this year...
How is the Prime Minister going to make decisions?
He is the only Japanese person?!
Who will he have meetings with?
Who will stamp approvals?
Who is going to consider a solution time and time again?
Scary times.
Legrande
As stated previously get ready for more taxes and then conscription for your son.
Legrande
Because the US intends for Japan to take the majority of the load and subsequent casualties when the battle for Taiwan goes down.
Stephen Chin
Getting nervous about China? Don't worry Japan and the United Kingdom, China will not attack any nation. Taiwan is not a nation
and China hopes it will be sensible and return to its mother country: China.
If China is forced to retake Taiwan, it is China's business and, no business
of Japan or, the U.K. So mind your own business Japan and the U.K. Okay?
Desert Tortoise
I only have direct experience with the JMSDF but they are pros in every sense of the word, and probably the best Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) navy in the world, equal to the US Navy in that regard. Their equipment and training are superb.
Desert Tortoise
The Argentines made that mistake once too. The Brits would have support from the US and Australia and probably Canada.
Legrande
The below confirms the US strategy for utilizing Japan-
[ if Japan shoulders most of the burden of its defense while America provides the alliance’s striking arm—then U.S. forces will enjoy a sanctuary from which to prosecute combat operations in Taiwan’s vicinity. Sanctuary is oftentimes a pivotal ingredient of victory in a hard-run conflict. You try to create it for yourself while denying it to antagonists. ]
Dr James R Holmes, J. C. Wylie Chair of Maritime Strategy at the Naval War College and a Nonresident Fellow at the Brute Krulak Center for Innovation & Future Warfare, Marine Corps University.
u_s__reamer
Sunak would do better to attend to the pressing business at home and sort out the mess that the UK has now become. Showboating on the international stage with Gilbert & Sullivan sabre-rattling is solving nothing.
Makoto Shimizu
It is a historic moment to celebrate! I remember the time that I was living in England, in 1990, and saw a group of veterans collecting signatures against a School for Japanese expatriate's children, then, I approached them, and had a polite conversation, I said that my father is Japanese, was a child at the war time, no one of his family had been directly participated of the war, as the majority of the people, just suffered the consequences of the leadership at that time, most military. Japan lost the war, was hardly punished with atomic bombs, pacifists have taken the leadership. It is good news that Japan and UK make agreements, there is a long history of cultural exchange, right side car driving, trains, punctuality, etc. Let's celebrate the friendship between Japan and the United Kingdom!
Legrande
Japan (and South Korea and Taiwan) was only ever to be a tool for US interests, congrats.
Desert Tortoise
The agreement is to permit Japanese forces to train in the UK and for UK forces to train in Japan. Remember the Brits are now teamed with Japan to develop a new fighter and there will likely be other projects they team up on. The Brits have a lot of recent combat experience and training with them would be highly useful. I'm sure the Japanese will want to see how the British military R&D community works and maybe have Japanese forces participate in operational test and evaluation of new jointly developed systems in UK before they go into series production.
Desert Tortoise
It doesn't work that way Mr. Chin. The US is not going to stand by if China invades Taiwan. I think China understands that regardless of their public bluster. Attacking Taiwan will be catastrophic for China.
GarlicJoe
Wow, the prime minister of Japan is walking around in the public without wearing a mask. He should set a good example in his home country too.
Desert Tortoise
Some of the best battleships the IJN operated during WWII were the four Kongo Class built before WWI. Kongo was built in UK, the other three were built in Japan to the British design. In the interwar years Japan rebuilt them from more lightly armored battlecruisers to more heavily armored battleships. They were the most active class of battleship in the IJN.
Mr Kipling
China is not going to invade Taiwan or anywhere else. China is only aggressive in the propaganda of countries that are losing to China's economic power. China will stand up for China's rights and interests.
noriahojanen
I didn't know the Tower of London is now a guest house. An irony for Kishida who is under threat of "decapitation" by rival LDP members at home? :)
The UK officials said it's a landmark deal since 1902 (when the first Anglo-Japan pact was made). A step for the Global Britain?
Legrande
Deny and deflect and downvote all you want the Japanese "tool for American interests" military will be taking orders from the US lol
indigo
alliance before the WAR
Sarunghakan Feng
A shame. As much as it is inevitable, do not involve the populations of the countries in this. To us, we did not ask for Mao or Communism. Return Hawaii back to its sovereignty, then they can no longer be hypocrites. The West wants to enslave and destroy everything else that is NOT their white race, even their own brothers, the Slavics. They've managed to destroy or control many countries in the process, claiming they are the free world, an easy tactic. Accuse your enemies of what you do yourself. Worst case scenario, better that there's a nuclear war and these evil imperialists are destroyed. Better the annihilation of the Elites, mass casualties and the aversion of global enslavement... and even if they hid in bunkers- people will know the truth. They will finally see what the Elites have made them believed in a war that was for "democracy". Stop fighting for these useless ideologies, they allowed Capitalism and Democracy to flourish for awhile as they hid in it like malevolent parasites. They tested Communism over in countries that are not their imperialistic countries. Now the parasite has grown too big to be removed. It is impossible to kill the parasite without the parasite killing the host and vice versa. It is no longer a conspiracy. It is the factual truth that nobody wants to listen. Only a nuclear war will make us as humanity, listen and be awakened.
gaijintraveller
Fighto!, what is the ultimate terror state? It is not Russia, it is not China, it is the US. It is the US that backs fascist coups, it is the US that backs right-wing dictators, it is the US that has been involved in wars for all but a few years of its history.
This meeting between Kishida and Sunak has nothing to do with maintaining peace: it is a distraction to distract people from the real economic problems of their countries, rising costs without rising wages.
This post will doubtless get lots of dislikes from Americans who believe their country's wars are for peace when the reality is so different.
GBR48
Brilliant. Please send any SD staff available who can drive trains or ambulances, or work the borders at the airports, as everyone is on strike and there are not enough UK military folk to fill in. We could also use a bit of help at the food banks. Save your toughest warriors for filling in at the schools during teachers' strikes, as British schools are not suited to those with a nervous disposition.
Sven Asai
Agreed, that looks like another prerequisite for the soon to come Taiwan theatre. Estimates are 2026, latest 2029, so everyone better hurry up and prepare, because China surely knows those estimates too and will therefore probably start even earlier.
Anonymous
What does this question means?
Proficiency of weapons use? Knowledge of and ability to execute battlefield tactics?
No one “knows” if and how (actual performance) they will fight until they are confronted with “the elephant”. Any claims to the contrary is rubbish that instructors hope trainees have absorbed.
Peter14
So many getting ahead of themselves. This RAA is not a military alliance. It simply means they can each access the others military bases to refuel, rearm, repair or whatever reasonable need is required, without making individual requests that go through a long process before being approved or denied.
It is in no way about fighting or supporting another's war with their own forces. That will be a separate issue.
KariHaruka
The alliance came in very handy during WWI for the UK, Australia & New Zealand. With Japan helping these nations to capture German occupied territory in the Far East and the Pacific.
The IJN also helped Britain and other allied navies to patrol the Mediterranean against the navies of Germany and it's allies.
Matt
All a game and nothing is as it seems. Imagine the crippling affect any war would have on China's economy due to the huge number of investments in countries like Japan, UK and US. It's all a game to keep the poor poor and the rich rich. I don't think British citizens will be happy to have Japanese soldiers roaming the streets, and visa versa. "All the worlds a stage" - Shakespeare
Alan Harrison
@Makoto Shimizu. I beg to differ with your assertion that Japan was hardly punished (I think that you mean in the context of harshly). I think that Japan got off very lightly, and as a result we now have an arrogant Japan which seems to be run directly and indirectly by nationalists.
Incidentally, why would a school be needed for expatriates children? England's schools are fine.
Peter14
Stephen ChinToday 08:33 am JST
Taiwan is an independent sovereign nation, which is why it will get international support if it is invaded by China.
Meantime, Taiwan hopes the people on the mainland will be sensible and throw out the CCP and allow democratically led Taiwan to rule it as it used to until 1949.
Any invasion of an independent nation is a matter for the international community, whether China likes it or not.
William77
Fighto! I wonder if you comprehend the terminology of fascism.
I’m not fan of China and Russia but it was another country that supported the fascist regimes of Pinochet,Argentina,Brazil,Spain and Greece.
Not every dictatorship is fascist.
Abe234
The re arming of Japan is basically for a couple of rocks. I can promise you this, if china attacks Taiwan,or any other country, they will probably just pull out the cheque book, and have multiple meetings, and say we are against the war. Japan doesn't even want to even rock the boat with Russia, even though it invaded another country, hasn't sent a single weapon. ZERO! Because it wants to hold onto some dream that Russia will negotiate a return of some islands that Japan lost in WW2.Once china's economy becomes even bigger, and Japan, the US, Australia, NZ, and Europe become even more dependent on the Chinese economy and factories, china will take Taiwan, and they'll all go off to the talking shop called the UN.
One advantage china has is it can isolate the island with its huge navy, similar to how the USA isolated Cuba, and it will be much harder for the US, et al to send any weapons to reinforce and support Taiwan. China is also playing the race card and think it deserves more respect. Kinda reminds me of japans thinking in the 20s and 30s.Remember how big their navy was. History is repeating itself.
Beechiemg
What a load of balderdash! Pishi Sunak is an unelected PM rich boy who is totally out of touch with his own people. He'd meet anyone and sign anything that smells of positivity to take him away from sorting out the crisis in his collapsing kingdom. Another sightseeing journey for Kishida is all this is.
wallace
All PMs are elected by their party and not by the electorate.
kaimycahl
@gaijintraveller do you understand that this article has nothing to do with the US? The meeting involved Kishida and Sunak. The article says "UK, Japan sign defense agreement allowing troop deployments, so how did you get so off base in your thoughts when the two were discussing maintaining peace, you got so confused and tried to tie the US in this by blaming them for others failures. LMFAO and then you was so insecure with your post because you know it has no logical explanation and wanted to blame Americans if they disliked your post. Its not that Americans believe their country's wars are for peace, its people like you who believe different and have a different view and afraid to accept a thumbs down! Face the reality read the article. A is for apple!
This meeting between Kishida and Sunak has nothing to do with maintaining peace: it is a distraction to distract people from the real economic problems of their countries, rising costs without rising wages.