Japan expands army footprint for first time in 40 years, risks angering China

Reuters ^ | April 19, 2014 | BY NOBUHIRO KUBO

[Oldeconomybuyer]

Japan began its first military expansion at the western end of its island chain in more than 40 years on Saturday, breaking ground on a radar station on a tropical island off Taiwan.

The move risks angering China, locked in a dispute with Japan over nearby islands which they both claim.

Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, who attended a ceremony on Yonaguni island to mark the start of construction, suggested the military presence could be enlarged to other islands in the seas southwest of Japan's main islands.

"This is the first deployment since the U.S. returned Okinawa (1972) and calls for us to be more on guard are growing," Onodera told reporters. "I want to build an operation able to properly defend islands that are part of Japan's territory."

[Teacher317]

risking emotional reactions... few things terrify the Left more...

[SevenofNine]

I see Godzilla gearing up for his movie comeback in May LOL!

[Tula Git]

Yet another product of Obamatazation.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

America is creating a world-class monster right now.

We must bring back manufacturing from China.

America we used to be a great country. Now we buy everything from China, and we are (terribly) in debt and that is rapidly getting worse.

America wake up.

[VanDeKoik]

Great time for Japan to put all of that fancy tech they have to use for more than weird video games and erotic toys.

Their men can seriously use the work rebuilding their military. I almost dont mind the spate of WW2 movies that they have been producing either if it gets some of their old warrior spirit back. It sure beats Americans having to do the work.

[MuttTheHoople]

When they were westernizing their military in the 19th Century, they were trying to emulate the British. They were our allies in World War I. They had an excellent reputation for proper treatment of their POW's (none of the Russians captured in the Russo-Japanese War died in captivity, and many Germans stayed in Japan after WW I).

Unfortunately, the Japanese decided to emulate the Germans in their racism and mercilessness in combat against what they considered were inferior.

I think 70 years of American influence when it comes to the Rules of War will prevent them from repeating the atrocities they committed in WW II.

[spetznaz]

As China will be angry over something anyways Japan may as well go ahead and strengthen their capabilities.

[skeeter]

Chinese “anger” is a tactic. The Japanese rightly recognize it as such, if our own leaders do not.

[spetznaz]

Exactly. In fact, most anger is a tactic, even at the individual level. In the same way someone cannot put their own good/honest/right personal development on pause due to the potential of some other person getting angry, nations should also not put the potential anger of other nations ahead of their good/honest/right self interests.

Japan should go ahead and do what it needs to do, especially considering China's own rapid military advancement.

[wonkowasright]

The biggest challenge that Japan must overcome if it is to remilitarize is the human component. They have no youth. They are on the cusp of a substantial long term population decline. They lack the youth to keep the civil infrastructure in tact.

Trying to staff a military of any size will require a strong rise in birthrates and about 18 years of waiting for the first crop of soldiers to mature.

[Jack Hammer]

“The move risks angering China...”

F*** China.