politics

Warship shows Japan's determination to expand military role

44 Comments
By EMILY WANG

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44 Comments
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The Izumo is a completely defensive carrier. Nothing to worry about at all.

8 ( +14 / -6 )

PM Shinzo Abe should let the Izumo visit Taiwan too!

President English Tsai is his very dear friend and Taipei is the one and only very Japanese friendly country in the whole world!

Visiting Subic while avoiding Kaohsiung is very Un-Japanese and negates the very stated purpose of the PH and VN sojourn.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

Abe under US orders.

Make Japan the target to deflect making the US mainland a target. 

Abe should be more interested in ending Japanese occupation by the US.

-7 ( +13 / -20 )

The operations of Izumo have encouraged Asia and Pacific people. It's quite defensive operations against some violent countries.

7 ( +13 / -6 )

Izumo carrier is purely for Self-Defense. If Asian nations are following the rule of law, and free passage of the seas, they have nothing to worry about. What a beautiful sight this convoy is! Ready for Peace. Prepared for War, which will hopefully never happen.

5 ( +14 / -9 )

Why?

probably cheeper to be a nice country

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Japan thinks it is 30 years ago.The local rivals have caught up with it and no longer aspire to invade a country with no natural resources,a population that is getting more geriatric by the minute and a debt that is the world's worst on a GDP/Per person basis.......The old Nippon Kaigi members still think/hope it is the 1930s.........Truth be told,Japan has become so irrelevant recently.

-2 ( +13 / -15 )

Is this the Carrier that would be used to defend Japan if the US left Japan, like all of you have kicked and screamed "Get out" on the last post about Trump wanting to leave Japan? If so, Gooooood Luck with your Helo's, and your F22's. ( oh wait, the only F22 made in Japan, crashed). Sooo, you do need the USA? Looks like it to me! Don't worry, young grasshopper! We will stay and help protect you. We will provide you will Missiles, and F22's made in the USA.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

The times have changed and foreign nations have no need to fear a remilitarized Japan whereas it is the Japanese people should be afraid, very afraid of the increased taxes they will be burdened with and the gratitude of the New Japanese Army for their sacrifices and suffering in the form of a future military coup a couple of decades or so down the road. Plus ca change!

-11 ( +3 / -14 )

Those rising sun flags conjure up bad memories/images for those in China, Korea, the Philippines, etc., who lived through the atrocities committed by imperial Japan and are still alive or studied history.

-12 ( +8 / -20 )

No Spitfire we Japanese don’t think that its 1930 or anything like that. What nonsense exactly are you on?

8 ( +14 / -6 )

Serrano

What memories? Nobody is still alive barely from those times and Japan has apologised and moved on.

Most of the planet would be fine with a Japanese ship coming their way. Can’t say the same about others though.

10 ( +17 / -7 )

Can Japan afford a full fledged army? They are struggling to keep pensioners etc going at the moment.

1 ( +6 / -5 )

Other more well equipped nations would be laughing at this show of military impotence

-15 ( +3 / -18 )

"not originally in the design, or something new that had not even been thought of"

ya think? Does anyone actually believe that?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

SerranoToday  07:17 pm JST

Those rising sun flags conjure up bad memories/images for those in China, Korea, the Philippines, etc., who lived through the atrocities committed by imperial Japan and are still alive or studied history.

No they don't. How can you post such a comment to an article about JMSDF in joint exercises that included the Philippines?

"In May, Japan conducted its first quadrilateral exercise with France, the U.S. and Australia in the Bay of Bengal. France deployed its flagship nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the FS Charles de Gaulle, while the United States sent a missile destroyer, the William P Lawrence. Other drills have included Canada, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei and the Philippines."

Only China and South Korea use WWII as a diplomatic and political tool. The rest of Asia supports Japan. The resident J-Hating crowd here is unbelievable. Or maybe not.

http://gking.harvard.edu/files/gking/files/50c.pdf

9 ( +15 / -6 )

Good for Japan. If you don't think for 2 seconds that China wouldn't want to annex pretty much the entire Pacific Ocean under the pretense of 'it's our history!', then I've got some beach front property to sell you. Japan needs a good self-defense these days and to think otherwise is just asking for trouble from China.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

If the US can’t be relied on to defend Japan in future, the only real option is not building these big metal warships, rather it’s going nuclear as a deterrent. Japan has few friends in Asia, surrounded by rivals that have caught up and have long memories of being occupied by Imperial Japan. A tenuous position for Japan with an ageing population living on their inadequate pensions, and with fewer young ones to crew these ships and go fight for them.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

Muratafan give it up. Its not China flung all over the world with military bases. Its the U.S. And just because its called the SDF does not mean it has zero offensive capabilities. The Chinese are well aware of both facts.

The Chinese military build up comes very, very late on the heels of the U.S. military build-up that's been ongoing since WWII and the American global empire. And China still only spends one fifth the money on their military....which it actually needs...because it is surrounded by very unfriendly to mildly unfriendly nations such as the U.S., through Japan and South Korea, and Japan and South Korea themselves, along with Taiwan, Vietnam, Russia and more. America is safe as houses.

All that distant military drills will do for Japan is convince China that Japan is a threat. Which will make China react making Japan see China as threat. Which make Japan react. That stupid spiral has been ongoing and leads directly to war, which is of course, exactly what the cheerleaders want.

Drako, yes. Get out. Stay out. I don't want any part of this "protection" racket the U.S. military mafia has foisted on Japan.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

It's about time.

Contrary to what the anti-Japan crowd thinks, Japan needs this due to aggressive acts from other Asian nations.

Last time I checked it sure wasn't Japan that was lobbying missiles near other countries.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

The Izumo is just the beginning of the rise of the Japanese navy and Japanese armed forces. Soon rather than later Japan will have a full fledged military. The story of the 21st century will be the rise of Japan as military super power.

0 ( +9 / -9 )

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made amending the constitution to allow the military greater leeway one of his lifetime goals. President Donald Trump has sought to help that cause, calling repeatedly for Japan to do more to defend itself under its alliance with the U.S.

Bravo. Japan needs to undertake an aggressive military expansion in opposition to the Chinese Communist threat. The sooner the better.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

I do not like flags in general but I find using the raising sun one very aggressive.

I am just sharing the feeling this picture gives me.

-3 ( +5 / -8 )

A warship does not show Japans determination of a military role. My BMW does not show my determination of a corporate take over either.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

@Akie

Out of borders wars

Are you serious?

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Open Minded, is Subic port nationalized by Japan ?

-6 ( +3 / -9 )

Had Japan dropped any bombs lately?

For that matter had any of the Self Defense Force of Japan fired any bullets of aggression PERIOD?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Triring, what do you think ? The peace constitution is going to be destroyed, if we let the stupid bomb explode.

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Stupid bomb?

Tell me when it does explode and while you are at it please tell me who dropped it first.

I heard PRC had launched their first ballistic missile test in the SEA seas.

Does that count?

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Wow, so Japan was forced to scramble jets to fend off Chinese jets on average twice a day throughout the whole of 2018! What on earth is China thinking?

That photo does not show the Izumo, by the way.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

You should at least post a photo of the JS Izumo on your page. There has got to be some stock photo somewhere, not a photo of JS Murasame, the lead vessel of its class of destroyer.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

Why on earth are they STILL using the Imperial flag?!! It's like modern day Germany using the Swastika on their ships...

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Norman Goodman give it up. You're talking as if China is innocent. China's the one who has built military bases in international waters which they wrongly claim, not these so-called unfriendly nations like Japan and Taiwan. So neighbouring countries have every right to beef up their military.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

Why on earth are they STILL using the Imperial flag?!! It's like modern day Germany using the Swastika on their ships...

No, it's more like modern day Germany still using the Iron Cross. Which they do.

The rising sun flag represented the Japanese military, not the Japanese government, just as the iron cross represented the German military, not the Nazi party. Which is why both are still in use today.

5 ( +8 / -3 )

Ken Wyatt, what wrong claim ? Based on what international laws is the claim wrong ? Those Islands were discovered by Chinese, named by Chinese, used by Chinese, claimed by Chinese, peacefully, undisputedly, for at least 2000 years. Where is it wrong ?

-6 ( +2 / -8 )

What memories? Nobody is still alive barely from those times and Japan has apologised and moved on. Most of the planet would be fine with a Japanese ship coming their way. Can’t say the same about others though.

What? Then are you saying that it's okay to bandy about the Nazi swastika all over the place?? That flag is Asians' swastika. Don't be so insensitive.

And don't get me started on that 'apologized and moved on' part.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

The rising sun flag represented the Japanese military, not the Japanese government, just as the iron cross represented the German military, not the Nazi party. Which is why both are still in use today.

The government and the military are inextricably intertwined.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

The government and the military are inextricably intertwined.

So where is the outrage from the rest of Europe over Germany's continued use of the iron cross? Or is it ok for them, just not for Japan?

12 ( +12 / -0 )

So where is the outrage from the rest of Europe over Germany's continued use of the iron cross? Or is it ok for them, just not for Japan?

I can't speak to others feelings, I was just stating a fact.

-12 ( +0 / -12 )

Ken WyattToday  03:06 am JST

Why on earth are they STILL using the Imperial flag?!! It's like modern day Germany using the Swastika on their ships...

No it's not. That "Imperial Flag" as you call it is the Japanese Naval Ensign, adopted in 1871 and now used by the JMSDF since 1968. The Nazi Swastika flag is a political flag, the 16 Rayed Ensign is not.

The US Navy and other Allied nations have no problem with this flag:

https://www.newsx.com/world/62259-japan-us-test-anti-missile-ships-joint-military-exercises

10 ( +12 / -2 )

What Abe has been generating is nothing more than an expensive hobby. Instead of little radio controled boats in a park pond Abe has big boats that sail in the ocean. But they will be equally effective should Japan (heaven forbid) get involved in a war. We'll all get fried by long range missiles, warships and all.

Hardy har har, Captain Abe. You have spent way to much of our hard earned money on your toys.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

I should "change my behavior"? Spoken like a true Wumao.

Now we are seeing who has substantive arguments and who flings insults. Keep aopologizing for Japan's aggression in the 20th century, its hilarious.

-11 ( +0 / -11 )

@ LB315

That flag is Asians' swastika.

It really isn't, even in Communist China is desperate to try and re-invent it as such.

Ultimately, Japan did actually liberate Asia from the hold of the European imperialists (it didn't do too well against the American imperialists, however, who unfortunately went on to carry out their own atrocities and remain to this day). Many Japanese actually fought on alongside locals after the end of WWII and trained up their militaries, police and governments (including in Korea).

If you speak to many of the elderly generations, eg in Taiwan, Indonesia etc, you'll find a fairly positive of Japan.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

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