Author: GIKorea

The Chinese are not going to like how the Japanese continue to expand their naval activities in the South China Sea in support of the U.S.’s freedom of navigation mission there:

The littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords joined two Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships for training in the contentious South China Sea on Tuesday, a Navy statement said.

The Navy vessel sailed with the JMSDF’s training ships JS Kashima and JS Shimayuki to “emphasize the importance of communications and coordination while operating together,” according to the statement.

“The opportunity to operate with our friends and allies at sea is incredibly important for our combined readiness and partnership,” Expeditionary Strike Group 7 commander Rear Adm. Fred Kacher said in the statement.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but the Chinese claim nearly the entire South China Sea as part of China. The freedom of navigation patrols by the U.S. and other countries supporting the American effort challenge these Chinese claims.

Just imagine what a message would be sent to Beijing if South Korea joined Japan on one of these patrols. It will never happen under the current government, but maybe a possibility down the road if the politics in South Korea changes.

This update on the Lee Jae-yong legal saga makes me wonder what was done behind the scenes by Samsung to influence this panel’s decision?:

Samsung Group heir apparent Lee Jae-yong was granted a respite Friday in a legal battle over his alleged role in a controversial merger and fraudulent accounting, as an independent panel of experts concluded that prosecutors should not indict him. 

However, Samsung is still cautious as Lee’s legal battle is not over.

After hours of discussion, the panel, made up of civil activists, legal experts and others, concurred that the investigation into Lee unwarranted, giving a breather to Samsung and its de facto leader.

“We respect the decision from the committee,” Lee’s lawyers said in a release. “We thank the committee for giving Lee and Samsung a chance to focus on their business activities and overcome the current crisis.”

Early this month, a few days ahead of a court ruling over his detention, Lee, vice chairman at Samsung Electronics Co., requested the panel review whether prosecutors’ investigation is fair, seeking public support for the high-stake legal battle.

The independent panel was introduced two years ago to enhance neutrality and fairness of prosecutors’ probes into cases that are of great public interest. In a nutshell, the panel was created to rein in prosecutors’ powers.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link. I have no idea if Lee is guilty of what he is accused of, but what I do know is that Korea is a rule by law nation instead of a rule of law nation. If powers that be want him guilty they can likely make it happen unless Lee gives them what they want.

Maybe I missed it, but when was vandalism ever legalized?:

President Donald Trump this week threatened a decade of jail time for protesters defacing and toppling statues on federal lands, citing a little known law designed to punish vandalism at American veteran cemeteries.

On Tuesday morning, Trump tweeted that he had authorized federal officials to “arrest anyone who vandalizes or destroys any monument, statue or other such federal property in the U.S. with up to 10 years in prison, per the Veterans’ Memorial Preservation Act, or such other laws that may be pertinent.”

But no presidential authorization is necessary.

Military Times

You can read more at the link, but if you haven’t heard the BLM folks are now tearing down statues honoring abolitionists.

Here is what President Moon had to say on the 70th anniversary of the Korean War:

South Korean President Moon Jae-in called on North Korea Thursday to join a bold move to formally end the Korean War in peace overtures, coupled with a clear warning message, commemorating the conflict that started seven decades ago, with the fragile Korea peace process at stake.

“We cannot commemorate the Korean War in a genuine manner yet. That is because the War has yet to come to an end,” he said during a speech at the war anniversary event held at Seoul Air Base, a military compound just southeast of Seoul. 

He was pointing out that the three-year war finished in a ceasefire, not a peace treaty, which has left the two Koreas technically at war and repeatedly facing sharp military tensions.

Moon expressed hope that the North will “boldly embark on an endeavor to end the most sorrowful war in world history.”

“If we are going to talk about unification, we have to achieve peace first, and only after peace has continued for a long time will we be able to finally see the door to unification,” he stressed, addressing the nighttime ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the war.

He reaffirmed that South Korea has no intention to force its system on the communist neighbor and emphasized the importance of building peace first.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but it doesn’t matter that President Moon does not want to impose the South’s system on the North. This is because the Kim regime still wants to impose their system on South Korea. This has always been their ultimate goal. Kim Jong-un has never come out and stated otherwise. This is because the democratic system in the South is a direct ideological threat to the Kim regime and must be opposed at all costs. This will never change as long as the Kim regime remains in power in North Korea.

More and more senior Army leaders are rocking the service’s new dress uniform to include the USFK commander:

Gen. Robert Abrams, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, donned a new look Thursday as he spoke during a ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the start of the Korean War.

Or, rather, it was an old look.

Wearing a dark olive jacket and pinkish-brown trousers, he joked that his uniform looked similar to those worn during the 1950-53 conflict on the divided peninsula.

“Some of you are already inquiring what uniform is General Abrams wearing. Some have accused me already of being a Korean War re-enactor,” he said as the audience laughed. “This is the newly approved Army Green Service Uniform, and it will be required for service members in the next few years.”

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link.

The big question is where in the Indo-Pacific would these troops go if they are in fact moved out of Germany?:

Thousands of troops may be redeployed to the Indo-Pacific under a plan to reduce U.S. forces in Germany, according to the White House’s national security adviser.

President Donald Trump announced last week his intentions of cutting troop levels in Germany from 34,500 to 25,000. He said the country, where the U.S. has stationed troops since 1945, has shortchanged the United States on trade and defense, and that he will reduce troop numbers “until they pay” more.

The move has been criticized by lawmakers in Germany and in the United States, including members of the Republican Party.

Stars & Stripes

You can read more at the link, but the article claims that Australia may be a place for the troops to be stationed.