[pierrem15]

China and Russia think they are advancing a pawn against the US.

They forgot about the rook: Japan.

I have never heard anything like the language coming out of the Japanese Foreign Ministry the past week, and I doubt anyone else has since before 1945.

[Mama25]

Amen to that. That speech was just amazing.

[Rockingham]

Yes, that is extraordinary. I suspect that the US and Japanese government are playing a more subtle and crafty strategy than is commonly realized. As North Korea antagonizes and menaces Japan, the government will rally the public to re-militarize and then go nuclear within a few years. That will enhance Japan's value and reliability as an ally against China. Meanwhile, even without such a major political shift, Japan will become more engaged in the US missile defense program and helpful against the emerging Chinese threat.