U.S.NON-Response to Crimea Worries Japan’s Leaders
Posted on 04/05/2014 11:02:40 AM PDT by mojito
TOKYO — When President Bill Clinton signed a 1994 agreement promising to “respect” the territorial integrity of Ukraine if it gave up its nuclear weapons, there was little thought then of how that obscure diplomatic pact — called the Budapest Memorandum — might affect the long-running defense partnership between the United States and Japan.
But now, as American officials have distanced themselves from the Budapest Memorandum in light of Russia’s takeover of Crimea, calling promises made in Budapest “nonbinding,” the United States is being forced at the same time to make reassurances in Asia. Japanese officials, a senior American military official said, “keep asking, ‘Are you going to do the same thing to us when something happens?’ ”
For Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who arrived in Tokyo on Saturday for two days of talks with Japan’s leaders, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, America’s longstanding promise to protect Japan against hostile nations — read China and North Korea — has suddenly come under the microscope. The American response to the Russian takeover of Crimea, which President Obama has condemned while at the same time ruling out American military action, has caused deep concern among already skittish Japanese officials.
[....]
One Japanese official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said, “We are just looking for a commitment from the American side.”
Obama administration officials say they stand by the American commitment to protect Japan, while refraining from explicitly stating that the United States would intervene militarily in the Senkakus dispute.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
So why are you even asking?
The Japanese need to be worried. Obama is no Nimitz.
So if Putin takes back Alaska, will Caliph Baraq draw a red line and issue a “strongly worded” statement?
Of course with Russia’s tax rates, maybe the Alaskans would welcome him?
China is building a BlueWater Navy. North Korea is playing with Nukes. Japan has an unreliable “protector”.
I see new, magnificent ships on the Pacific. Vessels with historic names, names that fought heroically in a (gladly) losing cause.
Names such as Yamato, Hiryu, Shinano, Yahagi, Shokaku and others. The U.S. Navy, though, will no longer be able to display its most famous name....ENTERPRISE.
When the United States was either Respected OR Feared, a lid was put on the world. Yes, there was agitated bubbling under the lid, but the kettle never boiled over.
Now, the lid is off the kettle and “here we go.”
If Alaska were a province of a “Washington Empire”, modeled after the Roman Empire; instead of a state in the USA — most Alaskans wouldn’t know the difference. (An impression I got from many visits, while I lived nearby.)
U.S.NON-Response to Crimea Worries Japan’s Leaders
I can’t imagine why Japan is worrying - in case China and/or North Korea attack, Obama’s United States will continue to leave the Japanese alone to do whatever they want.
Barry has an ax to grind concerning Japanese treatment of muslims in the Philippines, Borneo, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia during the 1940s. Hussein also has an ax to grind against Japan over it’s support of the United States in its wars of aggression in Korea and Vietnam.
Some analysts and former policy makers were blunt in saying that a failure to come to Japan’s aid in a clash over the Senkakus/Diaoyu islands could spell the end of the two nations’ postwar alliance.What - they're gonna hike defense spending beyond the current measly 1% of GDP? I have my doubts. Uncle Sam's the only game in town unless the Japanese are willing to make sacrifices. The Yamato spirit isn't dormant - it's extinct.“If Japan is attacked, and the Americans decline to respond, then it is time from the Americans to pull out” of their bases here, Mr. Miyake said. “Without those bases, America is not going to be a Pacific power anymore. America knows that.”
Obama would throw Japan under the bus quicker than you can say,So Sorry.
Probably happened when Zero said he was behind Japan 100 percent. Thanks mojito.
They pay for all the US bases in Japan so they can just re-direct that money into weapons systems.
$2b a year won't buy them a lot of equipment, and certainly not enough to offset China's massive procurement budget that is growing in leaps and bounds along with its GDP, which is why we are seeing so many new models of Chinese ships and aircraft.
Couldn't agree more. Maybe Obama sent the Moose to China to convey that same message.
$2 billion is a couple of used B2 bombers. China may be building up but Japan have the equip and the training to kicks some serious buttocks.
Japan is right to be worried. We are too.
In the absence of the alliance, what Japan needs is a nuclear triad. $2b a year doesn't even scratch the surface of what they have to develop and purchase.
The B-2's in our inventory are practically brand-new - especially compared to the B-1's and B-52's. USAF has plans for them until 2058. No way the Japanese are getting them. Besides, they'd be better off getting a dozen F-35's, which are said to be stealthier than B-2's and probably way less maintenance-intensive.
That would be the Ultimate Shock; if Putin ‘re-took’ Alaska, and Obama did nothing but make speeches between Two Ferns.
Obama would cede Alaska to Russia just to be rid of Sarah Palin. Barak has got his priorities STRAIGHT! /S
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.