Next month, the US and Japan are expected to announce the most significant change to their military alliance since the 1960s as the US is bolstering its forces in the region to prepare for a future war with China.
According to Financial Times, the US and Japan will unveil a plan to restructure the US military command in Japan to strengthen operational planning and exercises between the two nations when Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishia visits the White House on April 10.
The overhaul will give the head of US Forces Japan more authority to coordinate with Japan’s military rather than having to go through US Indo-Pacific Command, which is based in Hawaii.
Other details of the plan are unclear, but it could be related to Japan increasing its military capabilities as the US has been encouraging Tokyo to move away from its post-World War II constitution, which renounces war and says armed forces with war potential should never be maintained.
Japan has been breaking from its pacifist constitution for years and announced in 2022 that it was increasing its military budget by 56% and would acquire US-made Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of over 1,000 miles. Japan’s military buildup is being done explicitly to counter China as it named Beijing the “biggest strategic challenge” in its national security strategy document, echoing language used by the Pentagon.
On Tuesday, Japan’s Cabinet approved a plan to loosen the country’s strict weapons export rules. The plan will allow the sale of next-generation fighter jets that Japan is developing jointly with the UK and France to 15 countries that Tokyo has defense agreements with.
The US maintains its largest foreign military presence in Japan, which hosts over 53,000 US troops. About 70% of US bases in Japan are in the Okinawa Prefecture, which accounts for only 0.6% of Japan’s territory. The people of Okinawa overwhelmingly want the US to reduce its military presence, but Washington and Tokyo are forcing a construction project to relocate a base against the wishes of the prefecture’s governor.
Japan, “Please give us nukes. We like them a lot since you showed us how good they work on our civilians.”
Japanese leadership is pathetic…!
Do you really think Japan sees it in their best interests to say “no” to the US? Lol for all the lies and propaganda it spouts, “for us or against us” is a lonely truth. Have you missed how vindictive the US can be?
After the ICJ’s ruling of “plausible” genocide a bipartisan bill was introduced in congress to do a full review determining whether South Africa had “engaged in activities that undermine United States national security or foreign policy interests.”
That’s why what South Africa did was so courageous, they knew the risk.
https://mg.co.za/politics/2024-02-10-breaking-us-congress-introduces-bill-to-review-relations-with-south-africa-following-politically-motivated-icj-case/
…And what happened to S Africa since…?! They got praised by the rest of the world excluding US & perhaps West…!
Japan and Germany can do what S Africa did…! Yes, it takes courage and if they do it together, it would be more forceful…!
While speaking on this subject, Germany can end NATO tomorrow if they want to…!
How cavalier Netman, you think some praise is worth the risk SA has taken? Or have you even considered their risks?
SA’s exports to the US were $800B last year, what happens to the SA’s economy if the US levies economic and trade sanctions against it? Historically, most often all sanctions accomplish is suffering and misery for the people.
Talking about ‘vindictive’ maybe you should take a look at what the US did to Afghanistan after exiting our 20 years of occupation.
Japan is another US Hostage State just like Germany…! They both have been put down and controlled since WW2 because of US insecurity…!