Posted on 10/25/2013 10:14:50 PM PDT by Olog-hai
U.S. Marine tilt-rotor aircraft swooped in during a joint training exercise at this military training range in southwestern Japan last week, dropping off Japanese ground troops and peeling away. The soldiers raced to nearby positions, cutting off an opposing force threatening Marines nearby.
As military maneuvers go, it was fairly basic. But had it been a real-world mission, it might also have been illegal.
Under the current interpretation of Japan’s pacifist constitution, Japan’s armed forces are not permitted to fight on behalf of friends or allies unless the Japanese themselves come under direct attack.
It is a policy that conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe wants to change. An advisory panel is expected to issue a report by year’s end recommending that Abe issue a new interpretation of the 66-year-old constitution. A new policy is expected, which will permit Japanese troops to come to the aid of not only Americans and other allies, but international peacekeepers and civilian refugees as well. …
(Excerpt) Read more at world.time.com ...
Guess work and more guess work ... lol
“Why Japan Wants to Break Free of Its Pacifist Past...”
Easily explained in one word:
China.
They and China are more friendly than they let on in public. The only spats they would have is over who dominates their particular sphere.
J troops were training here near San Diego this year (even on the front page of the LAT) and they were momentarily attached to a tank BN near 29 Palms. However, they are attached economically with China so it makes it more complex.
I’ll stand with you Stingray. Remembering WWII. Long memories all sides have in that region of this globe.
America’s Battalion ! Fortuna Fortes Juvat! Fortune Favors the Brave
SF
Five more words:
Obama’s America won’t defend them.
How about two more words
North Korea
Not as scary as China but a bit more insane.
I believe you should add in the NORKs to their reasoning.
Honestly, I think Fukushima is a bigger problem for Japan than North Korea.
That would be dependant on what we are talking about.
If we are talking national security; and as this article is dealing with military matters (national security) I would disagree.
If we are talking economics I would agree with you. But even in economics I believe that Japan can easily weather Fukushima.
Don't they mean Japan's 'recent Pacifist Past' because it's been only 68 years since the Japanese surrender.
From the article: “Japan’s pacifist constitution”.
I think it’s time the Japanese people move on, change their constitution as per their law because too much has changed since inception.
Like said by others, there is China, N Korea and the biggy being the US will not defend them.
As I understand it, Japanese women would be pleased if their husbands could focus on beating someone else up for a spell.
“Don’t they mean Japan’s ‘recent Pacifist Past’ because it’s been only 68 years since the Japanese surrender.”
Germany was re-armed 18 years after Versailles; 68 years is plenty. We need a militarized Japan to counter Red China (as long as we’re maintaining the facade that they’re ideological enemies).
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