Should the US be concerned about Japan's military revival?

2014-01-01T23:22:23-05:00

http://thediplomat.com/2013/08/us-grows-concerned-about-japans-military-revival/

US Grows Concerned About Japan’s Military Revival | The Diplomat

Despite prodding Tokyo to shoulder more of its defense for years, Washington is growing uneasy at this prospect.

Response by CPL Paul B. made Jan 1 at 2014 11:22 PM

2014-01-01T23:22:55-05:00

I feel it shouldn't, but just wanted to know what the community felt.

Response by SPC Christopher Morehouse made Jan 8 at 2014 1:04 AM

2014-01-08T01:04:06-05:00

No, if anything we should be encouraging it.  More friendly forces to help stare down our enemies in the region.  So long as South Korea and Japan play nice, I don't see it being a problem for us.  China and North Korea are who we need to be worrying about in the pacific.  <br>

Response by SGM Chris Kaukali made Jan 8 at 2014 3:55 PM

2014-01-08T15:55:00-05:00

I can see the concern.  The US has been dedicating a lot of resources in Japan since WW II, so by the Japanese building up their self defense force, one would think it should decrease the amount of resources the US needs to provide in that theater.  However, there is still a need to remain involved as a international partner in global security.<br>

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2014 3:58 PM

2014-01-08T15:58:12-05:00

It would most likely help us now. There and the Philippines and Guam give us some close looks at what may be happening over in the East.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Apr 24 at 2014 12:15 PM

2014-04-24T12:15:53-04:00

concerned and vigilant

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 30 at 2014 10:44 AM

2014-04-30T10:44:12-04:00

After being stationed in Japan for about a year and a half and working closely with both the Japanese Ground Self Defense Forces (JGSDF) and the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Forces (JMSDF), I am not concerned at all with their "military revival." In fact, I encourage it to a certain extent. Their military is tiny compared to their neighbors (China mainly) and they know they are almost completely dependant upon the US for their national defense. My conclusion was that they simply want to be better able to defend themselves and their vital shipping lanes. This has become a growing concern for Japan because the US military capabilities and the political will to defend Japan is less certain than it was before. Our relationship with the Japanese government is excellent and in my experience the Japanese people generally love us. I do not see this as a threat to the US, but more as a response to China's growing naval capabilities in the region. Japan has very few options right now if China ever decided to land troops on disputed islands or block shipping lanes in the South China Sea. They don't want to be completely dependant upon us for their national defense, and I can respect that. China should be far more concerned than the US should be. But the Japanese people hate war and are politically non-confrontational in general, so I would not be concerned much at all.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made May 19 at 2014 12:29 PM

2014-05-19T12:29:19-04:00

@_@

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made May 19 at 2014 3:08 PM

2014-05-19T15:08:14-04:00

Yes. I wrote on another thread. Japan's military, although defensive is a concern for its vision of re strategy.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jul 26 at 2014 10:39 AM

2014-07-26T10:39:13-04:00

Japan is our #1 partner for economy, science and technology and military posture in the Asian Pivot; N.Korea,Russia, and China according to Caroline Kennedy...US Ambassador to Japan.

RIMPAC is a Naval and Maritime military maneuver that occurs in the Pacific every 2 years. This is a multinational military exercise.

The Japanese Constitution will be going through a legislative process for military issues. This will be voted on by the Japanese people in their Democratic process. The complexity of Japan's military expansion will be front and center in the Pacific. China seems to benefit from the US-Japan military relationship.

http://news.usni.org/2014/07/18/china-sends-uninvited-spy-ship-rimpac

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/caroline-kennedy-critical-time-u-s-japan/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/25/rimpac-photos-hawaii_n_5615536.html

Kennedy on why this is a critical time for U.S. and Japan

U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy was greeted warmly when she arrived in Tokyo last year. But the region, overshadowed by conflicts in the rest of the world, is facing troubles. Gwen Ifill sat down with Kennedy to discuss ongoing territorial disputes with China, the status of the President Obama’s pivot to Asia and the existential threat of nuclear weapons in North Korea.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2015 2:23 AM

2015-04-09T02:23:36-04:00

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Apr 9 at 2015 2:32 AM

2015-04-09T02:32:01-04:00

Apparently not ...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/new-defense-rules-would-give-japan-new-powers-to-aid-us-military/2015/04/08/419c0678-dda8-11e4-a500-1c5bb1d8ff6a_story.html

Revised defense rules would give Japan new powers to aid U.S. military

Japan is moving to expand the role of its Self-Defense Forces as it faces threats from North Korea and China.

Response by MSgt Steve Miller made Apr 9 at 2015 9:23 AM

2015-04-09T09:23:21-04:00

Not in the least, and it would appear that it's with our blessing. China is the real concern, as they continue to grow stronger in the economy; they also seem to flex a little from time to time regarding the overall region. One might think they would be warmly happy to be growing so quickly in their economy and just take a load off and relax a bit. Yet, do to the U.S. weakened military stance over the past 6 years, and going around telling everyone how sorry we are for past behavior; there does not seem to be a lot of concern for any trouble from U.S. forces. If we do not take a different stance soon, this will continue to be a growing problem around the globe.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2015 12:42 PM

2015-04-10T12:42:31-04:00

I don't think we need be concerned. I think they actually help us over there. China is building up like crazy. We needed another force to start growing in that part of the world that we trust.