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© KYODO57% oppose sending SDF to Middle East: survey
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Mister X
I hope Shinzo Abe and LDP get the message this time or will they go against the will of the people living in Japan?
We all know it wouldn't be the first time...
Wallace Fred
Pretty sure they'll listen to the minority on that one. It's their modus operandi
rlperez@hotmail.com.au
Since WWII Japan has kept out of wars. If they obey the US this will change and Japan will be in never ending military disputes around the globe. Why would Japan support its occupiers, its dictator?
Japan, regain your sovereignty and freedom from the US.
OssanAmerica
43 to 57% is not a great wide margin. These 57% are the insulated "heiwa-boke" people who think that the nice lifestyle and amenities in Japan are free. No need for Japan to join any misdirected "coalition", but certainly if the JSDF exists to protect Japanese lives and property, the Japanese owned and controlled oil tankers need to be escorted. Their presence alone may deter any attacks.
Chip Star
It did in 1952, or did you miss that in history class?
Scrote
I think the question should be: "Are you or your children willing to be sent to the middle east as part of the SDF?". If people aren't willing to sacrifice their own and their childrens' lives they shouldn't expect others to be asked to do so.
It's called the "self defence force". Getting involved in an argument between two dumps on the other side of the world (Saudi Arabia and Iran) has nothing to do with the defence of Japan. Leave them to fight amongst themselves.
Ganbare Japan!
A strong Japanese Military means a peaceful Japan. The sight of Japanese destroyers in the coast off Iran will surely deter these terrorists and protect the Japanese trade.
Well argued OssanAmerica. Its a very, very slim margin. PM Abe and Minister Kono will gain the public understanding on this.
OssanAmerica
Protecting Japanese interests (ships) is neither getting involved in a war nor taking sides in any argument. It would be taking action as a "self defense force". No particular country is taking credit for the recent attack on a Japanese vessel. Therefore the ships would be escorted to protect them from acts of terrorism and piracy. Not engage in any "war".
Silvafan
That was the same rhetoric that got Japan obliterated in WWII. Most of the people in these polls and actually vote are old people. The majority who disapprove remember the hard life that followed the war. Those who approve are the old people who are more upset about the embarrassing loss. They trying to rewrite history like Abe and the failure of his grandfather.
Jimizo
It’s pretty decisive.
OssanAmerica
References to WWII are simply stupid. Japan today is nothing like the Japanese Empire with the military controlling the government. Not to mention the first paragraph of Article 9. Do some actual reading up on what Japan was like for the people through the 1930s and 40s. Shinzo Abe addressed a joint session of the US Congress and received a standing ovation. Only Chinese and Korean nationalists harp on Abe and WWII forever.
https://www.house.gov/feature-stories/2015-5-4-japanese-prime-minister-addresses-congress
Chip Star
This is clearly incorrect.
Wesley
Better to keep the JSDF in Japan because of unfriendly neighbors who keep building fake islands in other people's waters and torturing Tibetan monks & nuns.
Wallace Fred
Lolololololololololoololololololol
No harm in wishful thinking I guess!!
Omachi
US bases in Japan protect the U S from a distance and at the same time jointly protect allies. If bases weren’t here, there would need to be a whole lot more aircraft carriers.
Vernon Watts
What's that saying? Everyone wants to eat, but not everyone is will to hunt. Fits the Japanese to a tee...
lulldapull
Japan Should be very careful getting involved in Trump's brinkmanship against Iran. Other than the half hearted and impotent UK, nobody else wants any skin in the game. If it came down to it, it would take Iran a few minutes to totally destroy the US navy along with wiping out all US bases in the Gulf! Iran is not Iraq. Bluffing and boasting won't get Trump anything. He is a shyster, just like Mubarak Hussain Obama was.
Kazuaki Shimazaki
OssanAmericaToday 09:15 am JST
I agree with the heiwa boke but you don't get to count the abstentions on your side :-)
englisc aspyrgend
Lulldapull, while I am no Trump supporter or blindly pro USA, your assessment of Iran’s military capability is delusional.
The UK has and had a military presence in the gulf long before this, it’s purpose is not aggressive but supportive of allies and freedom of navigation and for such the ships there are sufficient. It’s not a war fighting force.
nandakandamanda
Wow 57% is not far from our JT poll last week that showed 54% of readers voting no.
Silvafan
The US military is also in Japan to make sure they don't pull anymore surprise attacks on the US and the surrounding neighbors. Remember, they beat Germany in WWI only to fight them again in WWII.
juminRhee
SELF defence force. It's in the name. Is the middle east in Japan?
Wish the US had an SDF. Could've saved lots of lives and money.
Thunderbird2
If the SDF are to go there then they should do so as a protection force... if you go in with a war posture it will only inflame things even more. Several destroyers or missile frigates are all that's needed for protection. Leave the battle groups to America - let them take the heat.
mmwkdw
Well, whatever comments we write here, the Japanese Voting population won't read. They voted for Abe, and one of Abe's Policies is to renounce Article 9:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_9_of_the_Japanese_Constitution
So, once that's been done, the current and future Governments can do what they please with their currently Massive Military resources. And those youngsters serving in the armed forces, will eventually start to realize just what it means to be in Combat situation - some will not come back alive. Once that happens, I wonder what the Populace will do ?
OssanAmerica
Doesn't matter where the location is. The "SELF" refers to individuals and property that are Japanese. Merchant vessels under Japanese flag and/or under Japanese control fall into that category no matter where they may be.
Abe's policy is to renounce the Second Paragraph of Article 9, which states that Japan can not have a military force. This is in contradiction with reality since Japan's SDF is already a sizable military force.
Abe has repeatedly stated that he does not advocate changing the First Paragraph of Article 9, wherein Japan denounces the use of war as a means of settling diplomatic disputes. In other words, the heart of the "Peace Constitution".
juminRhee
OssanAmerica:
This is a slippery slope that the US had implemented. Despite being an actual military, originally, america was just the country proper, then it became the embassies and consulates, but then it became US persons (primarily military troops as observers) anywhere in the world. By that logic, the US sovereign territory is the entire world and other countries be dimmed. Just don't get their oil shipped that way. Good opportunity for Japan to buy some Canadian and American oil. Everybody's happy...except the chickenhawks and MIC.
shashank
Japan itself have low birth rate problem.
If it will send some of its healthy people to fight in wasteful wars in middle east, then how japan will survive ?