U.S. weighs deploying medium-range missiles to U.S. forces in Japan: report

Oh, boy. Prepare for some hughe NIMBYism in Kyushu. Japan has to give approval before any launch, right?

After seeing the events of the past week globally, America needs to do what ever it takes to combat any threat coming from our adversaries. Now I am not a warmonger. Quite the opposite. However it looks like The Peoples Republic's want to start something.

Who's bad?

M.M..

Now I am not a warmonger. Quite the opposite. However it looks like The Peoples Republic's want to start something. Who's bad?

You may not be a warmonger, but there are many in the Pentagon and both US and Japanese administrations that are. China is not wanting to start anything. All it ever does is exert its rights as a nation.

Who's bad? The US and its pathetic vassal states.

What does medium range mean this time? Only capable of hitting the surrounding fish? Or even worse like in Ukraine, only hitting own territory, but by all means not the attackers’?

More invasion and warmongering with the rhetoric of "protecting Japan" to only cut off the growth of China's economy.. (something US will never get)..

After seeing the events of the past week globally, America needs to do what ever it takes to combat any threat coming from our adversaries. Now I am not a warmonger. Quite the opposite. However it looks like The Peoples Republic's want to start something.

Who's bad?

Wrong as always..

If the US needs to do what is necessary "to combat any threat coming from our adversaries" (lol), do it in ITS OWN TERRITORY, not meddling in the affairs of other countries to fabricate wars for their own geopolitical convenience.

Who's bad? The US and its pathetic vassal states. (x 1000)

Well, at least it will help US keep shoot down more balloons, with 250,000 dollar missiles, pathetic, lol...

 Now I am not a warmonger.

HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA, Pathetic excuse.. lol...

like it or not, we are in an arms race with China, so I expect we will continue to see many more headlines like this.

So would this mean reducing the additional cash the Government wants to spend on military equipment. Then use it for supporting peoples lives here, or have I got my rose tinted glasses on again.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3022143/how-could-china-hit-back-if-japan-or-south-korea-sign-us

How could China hit back if Japan or South Korea sign up to US missile plan?

China has vowed to take unspecified countermeasures if the US deploys ground-based missiles in South Korea or Japan.

Ni said China’s response could be even bigger than the informal economic sanctions it imposed on Seoul over its deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence (THAAD) system, an American array of radar and interceptor missiles designed to spot and knock out incoming ballistic missiles.

Toyota, Honda, and Nissan would be driven out of Chinese market if the intermediate range missiles were deployed in Japan, Chinese officials were promising three times the retaliation it levied against Korea after THAAD deployment.

https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/japan-will-authorise-us-missiles-deployment-if-biden-administration-negotiates-sources-articleshow.html

Japan Will Authorize US Missiles Deployment If Biden Administration Negotiates: Sources

The Chinese already have a plan to saturate US bases in Japan with missile attacks to degrade C3 in the event of war in the Pacific.

This constitutes deterrence by holding Chinese assets at risk in an in-theater basis.

As such, it is a good move.

Downvotes are prominent but you’d be naive not to believe, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.”

so we’ve got this:

https://asiatimes.com/2023/01/china-drone-incursions-drop-a-gauntlet-on-japan/

and this:

https://thediplomat.com/2022/11/chinas-navy-sets-record-pace-for-intrusions-into-japans-territorial-sea/

and the U.S. and Japan are bad for even talking about putting defenses on their own territory.

Action Without Insight is a Terrible Thing. (Wolfgang Goethe).

Japan must be wary of the U.S.A.

Lets do it quickly before Trump wins in the 2024..... He should not get credit for these missiles ..

I see the pro Chinese are active today. But they floated this balloon, so they are at fault. I say bring in the missiles. Japan will need them.

Ian: Chinese citizens are the only nationality that has a totally different processor to enter most nation and the USA is one of them imposing restriction. To protect it citizens.

US has proposed deployment, Japan is weighing it

People who live here should really consider if they want further escalation/higher taxes for more arms.

If this were on a street and your family was involved, would you want to raise tensions, or cool things down?

So which southern Kyushu prefecture gets the honor of hosting USA medium length attack missiles, Kumamoto, Kagoshima or Miyazaki? Obviously the one with the least pull in the LDP. My guess would be Miyazaki.

If this were on a street and your family was involved, would you want to raise tensions, or cool things down?

So we’ve talked to the neighbors and their kids still keep running through our yard. Let’s get a dog.

If this were on a street and your family was involved, would you want to raise tensions, or cool things down?

Unfortunately very little we can do, the arms dealer will just continue selling arms because that's its business.

Thank God that Russia did not return the Kuriles to Japan. if this had happened, for example, under Yeltsin, then the Americans would have had no problem persuading the weaklings from the Japanese administration to arrange their bases under Russia's nose. The islands were not returned and will never be returned!

The more Japan allows Americans into its territories, the more missiles Russia will install on its islands. Missiles aimed not only at American bases, but also towards the Japanese islands. Do you need it?

The US will put these missiles in Japan because Japan needs them, and is going to make their own but that will take longer. This is an interim solution and these missiles will eventually be replaced with Japanese missiles when they are developed.

China has more missiles than anyone else, and has been the core of their "area denial" strategy for decades. All of their medium and long range missiles can reach Japan and what does Japan have to retaliate with?

This is a smart, prudent move that China will object to as it slightly erodes their advantage and they dont like that.

Japan has the right to defend itself, and these are conventional weapons. If it ever chooses to go nuclear, then China would have a real problem trying to dominate Japan. But While the US is here it complicates China's ambitions of empire building.

China is not wanting to start anything. All it ever does is exert its rights as a nation.

I do not believe that for a second. China is never to be trusted.

You may not be a warmonger, but there are many in the Pentagon and both US and Japanese administrations that are.

Only someone who has never spent a day in uniform or as a civilian employee of a military organization would say that. There are very darn few in that line of work who actually want to go to war. People like that tend to get weeded out as crazies. They don't usually promote. The leadership is composed of sober minded people who, get this, like people and want to keep their people alive and happy. The best military leaders are the ones who look after their troops. Same thing on the civilian side. I've been in both.

You prepare for war to deter the other side from attacking you. You make it obvious to the other side that attacking you is a losing proposition, so you are always looking for ways to achieve dominance. If a big war breaks out it means we failed miserably. Deterrence should prevent wars.

The more Japan allows Americans into its territories, the more missiles Russia will install on its islands. Missiles aimed not only at American bases, but also towards the Japanese islands. Do you need it?

Sigh. The missiles the Russians put on the Kuriles are Yakhont anti-ship missiles and they don't go very far. They are there to deter an amphibious assault.

China has zero to gain and lots to loose in starting any military conflict involving Japan / US bases here. It ain,t gonna happen. 

China's educational system doesn't teach their children the same history of the world taught in most democracies. They can view the same events westerners view but in their minds, based on what they are taught, they see something very different. One has to be very cautious making assumptions about what CCP leadership thinks. Do not assume they share our values or see the world the same way we do. They will weigh costs and benefits differently. It is a scary thing actually. Example, until this past year my wife was absolutely certain that Vietnam tried to invade China and China beat them. I managed to amass enough evidence to convince her otherwise. Likewise she believes the US started the Korean war and that China defeated the US. She know absolutely nothing about any of the Arab Israeli wars or even how Israel came to be. She is a brilliant engineer and very smart, but she was taught a version of history that is not complete. She is like the leaders of China today, same generation. They have the same educational shortcomings and thus may make choices that we never would.

It seems certain that the U.S. holds the key to Japan's defense matters, although on the surface all these defense matters are agreed upon bilaterally through negotiations. Take U.S. base issues including the Futenma relocation, for instance. 

When Okinawa governors and delegations visit Washington to appeal to reduce the excessive burden Okinawa has to shoulder for U.S. bases, they are almost always turned away at the gate. "You came to a wrong door. Go to the Japanese government.," they are told.

@desert You are bumping right up to the line of dehumanizing an entire nation. Have you ever read John Dower's War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War? Of course if you are in the business of waging wars, dehumanizing the other side is modus operandi.

why not deploy the misiles to the Senkaku islands...if China can fortify reefs/atols in disputed south China sea..,

tit for tat

You prepare for war to deter the other side from attacking you. You make it obvious to the other side that attacking you is a losing proposition, so you are always looking for ways to achieve dominance. If a big war breaks out it means we failed miserably. Deterrence should prevent wars.

Correct.

The problem is the US don't prevent wars, it starts them.

@Desert Tortoise

China's educational system doesn't teach their children the same history of the world taught in most democracies.

This is a loaded statement, and basically says that history taught in the 'democracies' is totally accurate, and everything taught in China about history is totally inaccurate, which is obviously not true.

If you were to do your due diligence about the Korean war, you would find that your wife is actually correct. The reason is here we have a prime example where history as it is generally taught in the democracies regarding the Korean war is misleading; it is true that the North came down in June 1950, however what is omitted is that when the US entered South Korea after WWII in 1945, instead of totally kicking out all the Japanese administrators and their Korean collaborators, they in fact retained some Japanese along with the majority of the collaborators; this stunned and outraged South Korean citizens and led to severe discord and conflict within South Korea, culminating in the massacre of 10% of the population on Jeju in 1948 (others were tortured and killed on the peninsula as well) by US-trained ROK forces (backed up by US military). ROK citizens wondered why Kim Il-sung simply sat on his hands during this whole process, until he gave the order to cross the border. When the NK military entered and occupied Seoul, the CIA sent memos to Washington explaining that the majority of the Seoul citizens supported the North; this led to the notorious Bodo League incident, in which anyone who was suspected of supporting the North was executed without trial by ROK military while US staff snapped photos for Washington.

So one should not assume that everything taught in the 'democracies' is the final word, while everything taught in China is inherently wrong. What is totally obvious is that there is a blatant anti-China campaign on-going in the western media, with US military people openly stating they expect war in 2025, and although you say that people working in the US military are not war mongers, you don't mention the fact that they don't make the decision, and merely take orders to do so.

So we’ve talked to the neighbors and their kids still keep running through our yard. Let’s get a dog.

Yes of your course your dog has never run through their yard lol, who do you think has been flying spy planes for decades?

As for warmongering, I'll not comment on that this time (let's just say I am against it).

The big questions here are:

(1) Are these weapons financed by US, or will we end up paying for them?

(2) Is this a first step towards deploying nuclear weapons in Japan?

Yes of your course your dog has never run through their yard lol, who do you think has been flying spy planes for decades?

I don’t have a dog yet. Hence the suggestion of it.

However, yes you are right. I was talking to my wife about it yesterday. Instead of looking at other countries all the time, there are several countries that could look inward and start seeing how they could reduce the threat. USA and UK of course, but Russia, China, NK, Japan, SK… they’re all taught to hate others through their own history books. Instead of teaching your kids hate for other countries, all of these governments could try to focus on what’s going on inside their own borders. U.S. is not innocent but neither are any of the others. Nothing will change anywhere though.

TokyoLiving predictably at it again. Judgement clouded by his open hatred for the USA and its people. These posts along with the other ones deleted earlier should be removed by the moderators.

we dont need US army hare and their rockets as well.

pack and go back home.

Now Japan followed the fate of Taiwan and South Korea that became a sandbag wall for Americans and their nations were trapped in.cross fire. Sure China wants to increase their missiles deployment aiming at these countries, now they got the pretext!

@Mr Kipling China Flying a SO CALLED WEATHER BAL-LOON over the US spying and you call "The US and its pathetic vassal states". BAD!! You say China is not wanting to start anything and all it ever does is exert its rights as a nation. WRONG NATION BUDDY!!! You imagination is just as inflated at the balloon!

Now I am not a warmonger. Quite the opposite. However it looks like The Peoples Republic's want to start something. Who's bad?

You may not be a warmonger, but there are many in the Pentagon and both US and Japanese administrations that are. China is not wanting to start anything. All it ever does is exert its rights as a nation.

Who's bad? The US and its pathetic vassal states.

@TokyoLiving No!!!! Practice makes perfect for the real target don't get it twisted, that's only a warning!

Well, at least it will help US keep shoot down more balloons, with 250,000 dollar missiles, pathetic, lol...

 Now I am not a warmonger.

HAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAA, Pathetic excuse.. lol...00 dollar missiles, pathetic, lol...

@desert You are bumping right up to the line of dehumanizing an entire nation. Have you ever read John Dower's War Without Mercy: Race and Power in the Pacific War? Of course if you are in the business of waging wars, dehumanizing the other side is modus operandi.

I am not dehumanizing the Chinese. The effing communist party has already accomplished that. The CCP has destroyed all the good things in Chinese culture and replaced it with ???? Nothing. All that is left is consumption and wealth accumulation. Half my family is Chinese. They live in abject fear of government. Even here in the US my wife was freaking out when I challenged a traffic ticket in court, fearing I would be arrested and disappear. Why? Because that is what happens if you challenge authority in China.

My wife is an electrical engineer. A very good one too, a real honest to goodness rocket scientist. But I see her educational shortcomings every day. Despite an American university education she is filled with superstitions and lives her life based on Chinese old wives tales. She will tell you in all earnestness that the sunlight has poison in it. Sun poison she calls it. When I try to explain that old story probably comes from a lack of understanding of heat exhaustion and heat stroke she angrily dismisses this. NO! The sun is poison. End of argument. Same thing with colds. To her you catch a cold from cold air. Try to tell her a cold only comes from a corona virus or that your nose runs on a cold day because it is the body's way of warming the nasal passages and she gets angry and tells me I know nothing. When our kid was born I had to endure this one month seclusion nonsense where I could not even enter the bedroom with her and our infant son and had buy a very expensive special diet. She didn't wash her hair for a month after giving birth because somehow this too was dangerous to her health. Oh yeah, she can't can't drink anything cold when she is on her period. She brews up these horrible smelling potions in a big clay pot, herbal medicine. I can smell this stuff down the street walking the dogs! I love her dearly but the Chinese school system isn't teaching the Chinese much except party dogma and a version of history that has many gaps and distortions. They also apparently do not teach anything resembling a modern health class.

@Stephen Chin Insight with action is a great thing!!! China is worry of everyone and their backwards thinking is never going to change.

Action Without Insight is a Terrible Thing. (Wolfgang Goethe).

Japan must be wary of the U.S.A.

And Historically how has that theory worked out ?

It has prevented another big war in Europe. It has prevented DPRK from re-invading the south. It has so far prevented PRC from attacking Taiwan. It is deterring China from taking revenge on Japan for WWII, something they burn to do. I'd say it has worked well overall in preventing really big wars like the one Japan started with her neighbors.

@Kuku We know that crap doesn't work!! What missiles, again Russia is a pit bull with no teeth they barely have men to fight so they have to hire day laborers or empty out their prisons. Russia can aim their missiles at the US but you best believe they will have missiles aimed back! So what's your point. Again Putin is a little poodle with no teeth and he is a puppet to Xi. I guarantee you the land Russia took from China will be on the list for China to take back its just a matter of time. Xi knows Putin is done just kicked to the curb he knows where is fight is and its one that he don't want!!!

The more Japan allows Americans into its territories, the more missiles Russia will install on its islands. Missiles aimed not only at American bases, but also towards the Japanese islands. Do you need it?

1) Are these weapons financed by US, or will we end up paying for them?

The US Government is buying them and they will be operated and maintained by US military personnel.

What the US Army is calling their "Midrange Capability" are three systems, a ground launched Tomahawk, a ground launched SM-6 (same launch vehicle for both) and a medium range ballistic missile with a hypersonic glide vehicle. All of these are either active today or will be by the end of the year.

@Legrande I totally disagree with what you posted. I don't think that Desert Tortoise was saying that everything taught in the 'democracies' is the final word, while everything taught in China is inherently wrong. I think his point was, in most democracies people have a choice to think the way they want to think openly and everything is debatable, but what is being taught in China is, what it is and this enforces their thoughts and attitudes, there is no room for debating! Do you actually believe everything what the media writes? I have read the same crap that the US military people openly stating they expect war in 2025. That is a spin to on disinformation from the media. If the US have military drills with SK or Japan the media spins it as preparing for war against China, NK, and people like you take it as people working in the US military being war mongers. Every day you go to work to support yourself, and family is it safe for the media to label you a workaholic because you go to work everyday? Perhaps you might not work everyday but that's what they assume! The military doesn't make the decision to go to war its takes an act of Congress, and the military only take orders to do so.

So one should not assume that everything taught in the 'democracies' is the final word, while everything taught in China is inherently wrong. What is totally obvious is that there is a blatant anti-China campaign on-going in the western media, with US military people openly stating they expect war in 2025, and although you say that people working in the US military are not war mongers, you don't mention the fact that they don't make the decision, and merely take orders to do so.

we dont need US army hare and their rockets as well.

Uh-oh, the top secret attack bunny program has been revealed :)

Yep, the rabbit has been pulled from the hat, the secret revealed. It's Bunny Unguided Global Strike, or BUGS for short.

Japan ! You need not be worried about China.

You, Japan ! need be worried about the U.S.A.

There is already war between the US and China going on right now.

The propaganda machines,cyber warfare and economic sanctions are just some of the areas where conflict is occurring.

The US Government is buying them and they will be operated and maintained by US military personnel.

Yes using the money supplied to them by Japanese taxpayers.

Long overdue. But more fundamentally, it is Japan's national duty to develop and deploy its own such weapons, and an obligation to use them help defend friendly countries in the region against Chinese, NK and Russian encroachments. In the face of existential dangers Japan should not hide behind its outdated peace constitution.

I heard this morning that Australia is getting "Not Base" but getting a fleet of long range Stealth Bombers and 4 legacy Sub on lease as a stop gap for the Virginia Class Sub. Somebody know more than what they are saying to me I assume China will make a move on Taiwan in the next few year.

Yes using the money supplied to them by Japanese taxpayers.

No. Japan pays some of the costs to provide base housing but doesn't pay for the weapons, their operations or their maintenance. I have direct knowledge of how those are paid for from my time in the military. I had to manage those budgets and justify our spending once upon a time.

Obviously the USA didn't prevent a really big war Japan started with her neighbors !

You prove my point. Between WWI and WWII the US greatly underinvested in defense and was rightly perceived as weak. The Japanese tried to take advantage of that weakness. FDR wanted to go to war against Japan in 1937 after the Panay incident but the US didn't even begin to have the military might to challenge Japan in China or anywhere else. US forces were non-existent in Europe so there was no deterrence against Hitler. WWII taught the US some hard lessons about preparedness and deterrence.

I heard this morning that Australia is getting "Not Base" but getting a fleet of long range Stealth Bombers and 4 legacy Sub on lease as a stop gap for the Virginia Class Sub.

That is what we call a sea story :)