Here is the U.S. and Japanese response to the recent military provocations against Japan by the Chinese:
U.S. strategic bombers joined a fleet of Japanese fighter jets in a joint military exercise meant to demonstrate their military cooperation around Japan’s airspace, defense officials said Thursday, as tensions with China escalate.
The exercise showcasing joint Japanese-U.S. air power came a day after Chinese and Russian bombers flew together around western Japan, prompting Tokyo to scramble fighter jets, though there was no airspace violation. It also follows China’s military aircraft locking radar on Japanese jets Saturday, another incident that has caused Tokyo-Beijing relations to further deteriorate.
Japan’s Air Self Defense-Force and the U.S. military conducted the joint exercise Wednesday as “the security environment surrounding our country is becoming even severer,” the Japanese Joint Staff said.
You can read more at the link.
Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi is simply restating what has been Japan’s government position for many decades, but this is still a stupid reason to cause tension with an important neighbor. It is even more unwise to bring this issue to the forefront at a time when China is flexing its economic and military might against Japan:
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi reiterated on the 9th that “Takeshima (竹島, the name Japan claims for Dokdo) is Japanese territory,” prompting the presidential office to directly refute the claim, stating, “Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law.”
At the Japanese House of Representatives Budget Committee meeting held that day, Prime Minister Takaichi responded to remarks by Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker Takami Yasuhiro, who stated, “Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture remains under illegal occupation by South Korea,” by asserting, “Takeshima is clearly our country’s (Japan’s) inherent territory, both historically and under international law,” and added, “We aim to actively convey messages to ensure accurate understanding of our position both domestically and internationally.”
In response, the presidential office immediately refuted the claim the same day. A source from the presidential office, when asked about the position regarding Prime Minister Takaichi’s remarks, stated, “There is no territorial dispute over Dokdo,” and emphasized, “Dokdo is clearly our inherent territory historically, geographically, and under international law.”
This is reportedly the first time since President Lee Jae-myung’s inauguration that the presidential office has taken a strong stance on issues where the two countries are at odds.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Takaichi has consistently asserted that Dokdo belongs to Japan. During the Liberal Democratic Party leadership election on the 27th of last month, she stated, “Wouldn’t it be better for a minister to confidently attend Takeshima Day?” and added, “There is no need to be cautious.” The Japanese government has sent a parliamentary vice-minister, a junior ministerial-level official, to Takeshima Day for 13 consecutive years from 2013 to this year.
You can read more at the link, but Dokdo is one of the few issues where the Korean right and left will rally around against Japan. Dokdo will never be given up by Korea. Maybe the Dokdo issue needs Trump the peacemaker to settle?
Chu-SAM would be a great capability for the Philippines to acquire to develop a layer of missile defense around their country:
Japan’s Defense Ministry has denied a report that it is considering selling surface-to-air missiles to the Philippines, even as it acknowledged that Tokyo may soon loosen long-standing restrictions on arms exports.
Kyodo News, citing anonymous sources, reported Monday that Japan and the Philippines had held informal talks on exporting Japan’s Type 03 medium-range missile.
The system — also known as Chu-SAM — is capable of intercepting aircraft and cruise missiles. It is deployed to Ishigaki Island at the far end of the Nansei chain, where it is positioned to counter China’s growing military activity near Taiwan and in the East China Sea.
You can read more at the link.
The American tourist was a former Marine Captain visiting Okinawa who was out past curfew which the military police had no jurisdiction over. The civilian could have defused the situation by showing his ID as requested, but when he refused the MP should not have body slammed him. I wonder if an assault charge could be filed with the Japanese police?:
Two Okinawa government officials urged caution amid a review of street patrols by U.S. military police in nightlife districts following a viral video of a U.S. civilian’s violent arrest. Two videos totaling four minutes show what appears to be a U.S. military police officer body slamming a man in civilian clothes onto the sidewalk along Gate 2 Street in Okinawa city outside Kadena Air Base early on Nov. 23. A patrol consisting only of U.S. military police stopped the civilian outside a bar in Okinawa city, according to U.S. Forces Japan spokesman Air Force Col. John Severns by email Wednesday. The civilian was not connected with the U.S. military, he said.
USFJ commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost ordered unilateral patrols by the U.S. military paused while an investigation of the incident takes place, Severns said. In neighboring Chatan town, Mayor Masashi Toguchi told reporters Thursday that “mistaken detentions like this should never happen, and we strongly urge a careful response,” a town spokesman said by phone Friday.
You can read more at the link, but what is even more concerning is that this MP was saying they can detain Japanese civilians if they wanted to. Clearly some retraining needs to happen. You would think simple things like who you can and cannot detain or body slam would have been clearly understood before sending these MPs out on patrol.
