Japan plans to remilitarize at lightning speed

[Yaoudelizard]

I do not see the logic here. At the UNSC, whatever resolution is passed, it means unanimous decision. For instance, they either supported or abstained resolutions on Libya in 2011. Again, resolution 1441 on Iraq, both voted in favor in 2002 whereas only France threatened a veto if the language of the resolution was not changed. In 2013, they vetoed three resolutions on Syria. Each power wielded veto power according to their interests. You can go and check their vetoing history.

France, UK, US are allies, you don’t think they could communicate how they’re going to vote before they vote? And you don’t find it a problem that the fate of Muslim countries are decided without even one Muslim voice present.

Ideally, yes. A better system can be imagined. But this is what we have now, and it is the best possible at the moment. Better than anarchy.

This system if course is not corrected is leading us to WW3. If America doesn’t reevaluate its foreign policy there will be war and not with the tiny little countries the like to pick on.

So, you want Russia to add more lands? Because I did not see any other major power adding lands ever since the UN regime is established.

Well, Russia does what wants, as well. When the USSR got bogged down in Afghanistan, US supported resistance. When US failed nation building in Afghanistan, Russia supported resistance.

Same as in Syria. Russia intervened. In the Caucasus, Chechnya and Dagestan, Russia rained free, carped bombed, levelled entire cities. If one person is found to be killing Russian soldiers, his entire family was wiped out.

Russia has always seen Central Asia as its backyard.

You see, your guys, too, have all the right to do whatever they want. Now, they are doing what they want, invading a neighboring country. What else do you want?

I think it’s a problem both America and Russia are starting wars all over the place. But I just don’t want to be a hypocrite and pretend when one side does it they are good guys defending freedom and the other is bad. I don’t think it’s a right to invade other countries like you do, that f’ed up morality you have.

Are you educated, or just bitter? You have lots of uneducated opinion.

I have proven that Plaza Accord was not only a Japan thing, was not even initially a US idea because they preferred strong currency, which made US exports expensive and Japanese and German exports cheap.

About currency pegging:

Do you know that over 60 currencies are pegged to the USD, including Chinese RMB? And US constantly complains about that because artificially pegging a currency gives you advantage in trade with the US? In fact, Plaza Accord was all about this pegging?

You see, Japan does what it sees fit to it's economic interests, and keeps Yen pegged and devalued. This helps with exports while making imports more expensive.

America has its fingers in japan’s central banks, China can choose to peg it currency to whatever it wants whenever it wants. Japan can’t unless America let’s them. It’s doesn’t matter who’s idea was it, the fact is the plaza accords give America power over the German and Japanese currencies. America holds the cards not Japan.

 

[Foinikas]

They've already begun...

 

[Stranagor]

Japan eyes global military power status - Asia Times

Realist international relations scholars predicted that after the Cold War Japan would revert to its "normal" position in the global hierarchy of great

asiatimes.com

Realist international relations scholars predicted that after the Cold War Japan would revert to its “normal” position in the global hierarchy of great powers. In a seminal 1993 article, Kenneth Waltz asserted that “much in Japan’s institutions and behavior supports the proposition that it will once again take its place among the great powers.”

According to most realist theorists, this entailed the reacquisition of archetypical great power military capabilities and an independent nuclear deterrent. But after decades passed and this prediction failed to eventuate, Japan specialists searched for explanations.

They settled on Japan’s national identity as a “global civilian power” and its “nuclear allergy“— a consequence of the atomic bombings of World War II.

In his new book, leading scholar on Japanese security policy Christopher Hughes characterized Japan as a “global” military power. He claims that “Japan is demonstrating all the indicators of becoming a more capable military actor and of going not just regional but also global in its military profile.”

No claim to be a global military power is credible without the requisite defense capabilities. Hughes’ previous work tracked the steady remilitarization of Japan. This began in the 1950s when the Japan Self-Defense Forces were established and continued with periods of acceleration under former prime ministers Yasuhiro Nakasone, Junichiro Koizumi and Shinzo Abe.

Koizumi explicitly spoke of becoming a “normal” country — implying that not being a great power was a condition of abnormality to be remedied. Abe certainly believed this when he affirmed that “Japan will never become a tier two country.” Under the “Abe doctrine“, Hughes argues that the process is reaching fruition.

Japan appears to be transforming into something more like the normal great power that realists predicted decades ago. The country has acquired many necessary accouterments of typical great powers.

The increased centralization of security policy and the establishment of a National Security Council and National Security Advisor emulate the organizational structure and procedures of other great powers.

...

 

[Oldman1]

Stop this holier than thou attitude. The Americans are the epitome of domination. You accuse China of wanting to become a regional king. Guess what, your country America is no different and in fact much worse when it comes to hegemonic behavior.

If we are the epitome of domination, why are countries especially in Asia not worried about the U.S., but China? This is the tip of the iceberg when you have Chinese marine fleet ships going halfway around the world overfishing in other countries' waters with abandonment and support by the Chinese government. It won't be a regional power that they want. In fact they have said before that they want half the Pacific Ocean besides controlling Asia.

 

[Mista]

The current system was created by the winners, naturally. Which included China (ROC) and the USSR.

Regardless of bad faith and violations, there's a framework in place. As for violations of UN resolutions, you need to look at it in an issue-specific way. Resolutions on Israel may be violated by a set of countries whereas those on North Korea by another set of countries.

Why violations? (Technically, they are not violations because the resolutions are non- binding) Because, apart from UNSC resolutions, UN resolutions are not really enforceable in a meaningful way apart from a trust on good faith. And you know which countries are on the UNSC.

The system is not perfect, including the UNSC. It is often dysfunctional, however, it still provides a lot of regimes that make our life easier, from aviation to behavior during war time.



Indeed, some people argue the Plaza Accords were the underlying reason for Japan's stagnation/stagflation which lasted till Abenomics. Others, however, ascribe it to politically weak governments. Keep in mind that US forced not only Japan but also others such as West Germany and UK to sign similar accords, mainly involving currency appreciations vis a vis the USD.

I am not sure which coercive methods the US employed at the G5 meeting they had in 1085 since, in the early 80s, it was the US which objected France's suggestions to appreciate the USD whereas then US Treasury Secretary thought a strong USD proved strong US economy and prestige. Even before the US action, actually, Germany intervened by selling USD to help depreciate it value. I am not sure how happy Japan was with the decision, but, it was definitely not the US initially and solely.

I think Japan can make sovereign decisions but it, like any other country, does not make decisions in a vacuum. A game theory of cause-effect linkages play a role. They need to consider multiple factors. After all, it is a multi player game. US is strong, but not stupid to really go out and dictate. It will threaten on various ways, since every state seeks its own interests, but, if Japan thinks that the advantages of not giving heed to US demands outweighs that of disadvantages, it will simply not heed. It's all about cost-benefit calculation.

I believe this the case with US military presence. Or it was with the Plaza Accord. In fact, it benefitted immensely with the US willingness to share tech and know-how during its economic assent. Of course, the US too benefitted.

The US could've just manipulate their currency like many other countries by unilaterally dumping the USD, which has massively appreciated by almost 50% in the prior 5 years, instead of reaching a consensus with other economic powers to collectively dump the USD.

Japan's economic stagnation has also more got to do with its demographics and inefficient capital allocation (both which can also explain China's slowdown in recent years), rather than the relative appreciation of the Yen more than 30 years ago which by the way still saw its export grow afterwards.

But of course this narrative doesn't sound as sexy, and people would rather believe that the Plaza Accord signed more than 30 years ago is the underlying reason for Japan's stagnation today.

 

[Mista]

Are you educated, or just bitter? You have lots of uneducated opinion.

He lacks critical thinking. He thinks the world is as binary as he makes it out to be.

 

[Stranagor]

If we are the epitome of domination, why are countries especially in Asia not worried about the U.S., but China? This is the tip of the iceberg when you have Chinese marine fleet ships going halfway around the world overfishing in other countries' waters with abandonment and support by the Chinese government. It won't be a regional power that they want. In fact they have said before that they want half the Pacific Ocean besides controlling Asia.

China has been fast losing all the public diplomacy gains. It's such a monumental undoing of previous gains.

Such as this:

Spanish group offers help as South Korea probes secret China ‘police station’

Safeguard Defenders said it is ready to assist Seoul after the government confirmed the allegations that Beijing is running a facility ‘at an unknown location’ in the country.

www.scmp.com

France, UK, US are allies, you don’t think they could communicate how they’re going to vote before they vote? And you don’t find it a problem that the fate of Muslim countries are decided without even one Muslim voice present.

There may be communication, but not coercion. If you can convince someone to cooperate with you, it proves you know how to negotiate.

About lack of a Muslim country, that's because the UN is a secular institution, not one based on religion. If that were the case, there are some 4000 recognized religions. Should all be represented?

If America doesn’t reevaluate its foreign policy there will be war and not with the tiny little countries the like to pick on

America does not protect the system solely. It's a global consensus. In the end, if you are unhappy, you can freely leave the UN or WTO. US would not shed any tear.

America has its fingers in japan’s central banks, China can choose to peg it currency to whatever it wants whenever it wants. Japan can’t unless America let’s them. It’s doesn’t matter who’s idea was it, the fact is the plaza accords give America power over the German and Japanese currencies. America holds the cards not Japan.

Please refer to @Mista 's post above (#215) . Thank you.

 

[aziqbal]

I do not argue it is better or worse. I just observe that it is the general inclination in East Asia - more so today than in the past three decades.

I do not see regional powers working together to balance out the hegemon. Most are engaged in bandwagoning or balancing.

Global hegemony would become tyrannical if there were no institutions, laws, conventions and a general framework. But, currently, there's a system in place.




In an ideal world, it may work. But, realistically, it is hard to achieve or maintain. One can hardly convince Ukrainians of the benefits of regional hegemony.

Same goes for Vietnam in the East Asian context.




Militarily, yes, it was. Economically, I do not think so. To be resource dependent is geography and geology, not a political decision. Japan happens to be a resource poor island state. Yet, it is economically more advanced than many resource extracting countries.

Japan has a very strong tradition and culture and warrior spirit

China has 2 Casino Carriers copied from USSR

 

[retaxis]

Japan has a very strong tradition and culture and warrior spirit

China has 2 Casino Carriers copied from USSR

What does your original country have? No i don't mean white mans achievements where you are a brown slave 2nd class.

Exactly you can't even copy a simple thing as a rifle and buy all from China and yet you sh1t on China for making 100% indigenous aircraft carriers, 5th gen stealth fighters, space ships/stations etc. I guess some people have no shame.

China has been fast losing all the public diplomacy gains. It's such a monumental undoing of previous gains.

Such as this:

Spanish group offers help as South Korea probes secret China ‘police station’

Safeguard Defenders said it is ready to assist Seoul after the government confirmed the allegations that Beijing is running a facility ‘at an unknown location’ in the country.

www.scmp.com

There may be communication, but not coercion. If you can convince someone to cooperate with you, it proves you know how to negotiate.

About lack of a Muslim country, that's because the UN is a secular institution, not one based on religion. If that were the case, there are some 4000 recognized religions. Should all be represented?



America does not protect the system solely. It's a global consensus. In the end, if you are unhappy, you can freely leave the UN or WTO. US would not shed any tear.



Please refer to @Mista 's post above (#215) . Thank you.

When the West is reduced due to demographic issues in the 2040s (white minority). Japan will certainly aim to change their fortune and enlarge their land area and population. Japan knows China/Russia and even Korea are too hard to invade and not worth it so they will aim for Papua New Guinea/East timor and other Malaysian/Indonesian islands since they are very weak militarily. Japan will watch US descend into white minority ultra woke pacificist culture in the next 20 years and thats their opportunity to go big once again. China and Russia pact can make a deal with the Japs and everyone wins.