Tens of thousands rally for removal of US base from Japanese island

[Sugarcane]

Simply put, Japan is not allowed to defend itself because of restrictions imposed by the US.

Under the current Japanese constitution that came into effect in 1947 created/imposed on Japan as a result of being defeated in WW2, specifically article 9 of the constitution, Japan cannot built a formal military or use it. It only maintains a "self-defence force" that is a skeleton of an armed forces. Japan is severely limited in its ability to create a proper military industry, size of armed forces and independent nature of the armed forces. It is effectively an US puppet state.

第九条 　日本国民は、正義と秩序を基調とする国際平和を誠実に希求し、国権の発動たる戦争と、武力による威嚇又は武力の行使は、国際紛争を解決する手段としては、永久にこれを放棄する。

２ 　前項の目的を達するため、陸海空軍その他の戦力は、これを保持しない。国の交戦権は、これを認めない。

The official English translation of the article is:

ARTICLE 9. (1) Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
(2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

As per article 9 of the constitution, Japan cannot use the military as a tool. It is essentially a nation with no military power due to artificial limits. On paper, the Japanese armed forces is essentially useless but in practice this has the possibility of being amended during a perceived crisis through article 96 and transform the "self-defence force" into a precursor military. Though it can be amended, it would take years for Japan to build up a proper military industry. The "self-defence force" (SDF) is designed in such a way that it has the commanding structure and officer core available to be expanded into a much larger armed forces.

第九十六条 　この憲法の改正は、各議院の総議員の三分の二以上の賛成で、国会が、これを発議し、国民に提案してその承認を経なければならない。この承認には、特別の国民投票又は国会の定める選挙の際行はれる投票において、その過半数の賛成を必要とする。
２ 　憲法改正について前項の承認を経たときは、天皇は、国民の名で、この憲法と一体を成すものとして、直ちにこれを公布する。

ARTICLE 96. (1) Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by the Diet, through a concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all the members of each House and shall thereupon be submitted to the people for ratification, which shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast thereon, at a special referendum or at such election as the Diet shall specify.
(2) Amendments when so ratified shall immediately be promulgated by the Emperor in the name of the people, as an integral part of this Constitution.


Without the ability to use its military imposed by article 9, it opens up room for the US to fill the security gap. The US benefits from Japan's orders of American weapon systems (due to limits on its military industry) and financial support for being hosted. Japan pays the US military billions a year for it to be there.

According to an annual report titled Allied Contributions to the Common Defense published by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2004, Japan provided direct support of $3.2 billion (about ¥366 billion) and indirect support worth $1.18 billion, offsetting as much as 74.5 percent of the total cost.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...pay-host-u-s-forces-depends-ask/#.W3JcgehKiUk

Well, As per this even Afghanistan enjoys more freedom than Japan. What are chances that Japan electing own Trump to make Japan Great Again, As there any politician or party who is against this surrender of sovereignty? If so then China must support him/her to oust US from Asia.

 

[TaiShang]

Simply put, Japan is not allowed to have a proper military or use it because of restrictions imposed by the US.

Under the current Japanese constitution that came into effect in 1947 created/imposed on Japan as a result of being defeated in WW2, specifically article 9 of the constitution, Japan cannot built a formal military or use it. It only maintains a "self-defence force" that is a skeleton of an armed forces. Japan is severely limited in its ability to create a proper military industry, size of armed forces and independent nature of the armed forces. It is effectively an US puppet state.

第九条 　日本国民は、正義と秩序を基調とする国際平和を誠実に希求し、国権の発動たる戦争と、武力による威嚇又は武力の行使は、国際紛争を解決する手段としては、永久にこれを放棄する。

２ 　前項の目的を達するため、陸海空軍その他の戦力は、これを保持しない。国の交戦権は、これを認めない。

The official English translation of the article is:

ARTICLE 9. (1) Aspiring sincerely to an international peace based on justice and order, the Japanese people forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes.
(2) In order to accomplish the aim of the preceding paragraph, land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained. The right of belligerency of the state will not be recognized.

As per article 9 of the constitution, Japan cannot use the military as a tool, it doesn't have the right to fight in a war. It is essentially a nation with no military power due to artificial limits. On paper, the Japanese armed forces is essentially useless but in practice this has the possibility of being amended during a perceived crisis through article 96 and transform the "self-defence force" into a precursor military. Though it can be amended, it would take years for Japan to build up a proper military industry but the transition could be supplimented with US equipment. The "self-defence force" (SDF) is designed in such a way that it has the commanding structure and officer core available to be expanded into a much larger armed forces.

第九十六条 　この憲法の改正は、各議院の総議員の三分の二以上の賛成で、国会が、これを発議し、国民に提案してその承認を経なければならない。この承認には、特別の国民投票又は国会の定める選挙の際行はれる投票において、その過半数の賛成を必要とする。
２ 　憲法改正について前項の承認を経たときは、天皇は、国民の名で、この憲法と一体を成すものとして、直ちにこれを公布する。

ARTICLE 96. (1) Amendments to this Constitution shall be initiated by the Diet, through a concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all the members of each House and shall thereupon be submitted to the people for ratification, which shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes cast thereon, at a special referendum or at such election as the Diet shall specify.
(2) Amendments when so ratified shall immediately be promulgated by the Emperor in the name of the people, as an integral part of this Constitution.


Without the ability to use its military imposed by article 9, it opens up room for the US to fill the security gap. The US benefits from Japan's orders of American weapon systems (due to limits on its military industry) and financial support for being hosted. Japan pays the US military billions a year for it to be there.

According to an annual report titled Allied Contributions to the Common Defense published by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2004, Japan provided direct support of $3.2 billion (about ¥366 billion) and indirect support worth $1.18 billion, offsetting as much as 74.5 percent of the total cost.
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...pay-host-u-s-forces-depends-ask/#.W3JcgehKiUk

Japan is one of the most loyal countries (US puppet states) that keeps paying host-nation fees (and increasing).

Basically, the US ensures peace-time military invasion of Japan, controls its politics, and makes Japan pay for a foreign military contingency that is not trained to defend, but to assault.

Practically, the US uses Japan as a forward base against, and only against, China.

That explains why China may prefer a normalized Japan with normal military and no US contingency than an abnormal Japan with US mercenary military.

 

[Peaceful Civilian]

Japan feels itself safe due to presence of U.S.A military and base there. U.S.A also don't want Japan to go for nuclear weapons for defense purpose. I think U.S military will stay there.

 

[Cybernetics]

Well, As per this even Afghanistan enjoys more freedom than Japan. What are chances that Japan electing own Trump to make Japan Great Again, As there any politician or party who is against this surrender of sovereignty? If so then China must support him/her to oust US from Asia.

The two main politically active groups (pacifists and right wing) does not yet have an unifying narrative. The suitable conditions for that narrative is not yet available.

Those that are fervently against American bases are mostly from the pacifist camp. This group tends to be the older generation that remembers the horrors of the war (battle of Okinawa was brutal) directly or through second hand accounts of family. The pacifist camp is most densely populated on the Ryukyu islands/Okinawa. Another reason being is that the tiny but very densely populated island of Okinawa is home to 32 US military bases and 48 training sites. Previous incidents of murders and rapes by US military upon the locals during peacetime (some are recent) were not properly brought to justice. The locals feel occupied by an abusive foreign force.

Japan as assessed by many observers is not a normal country. It was due to WW2 and the aftermath. The amending of article 9 is usually referred to as "normalization" or the start of the "normalization" process. There are much deeper issues than just changing article 9 on paper. Those that pushes for amendment of article 9 are from the right-wing groups and they have sizable influence and political power within Japan's current administration. To accomplish their political goals, they need to change the Japanese mindset and are currently planting seeds and building up their narratives but it would take much time before it manifests.

The desire for a "Make Japan Great Again" narrative is brewing, but not in the same fashion of the US. There is nostalgia for greatness within the minds of some older generation but unlike the US, Japan is largely an apolitical society and not just referring to voting turn outs but also general attitudes. The right-wing within Japan thinks that apolitical attitude was artificially imposed and cultivated post WW2, thus limiting the acceptance towards "MJGA" narrative. For those that have that desire, the popular period to be emulated, would be the militarization period.

Hindrances for Japan normalising includes the apolitical nature of the population and a certain degree of pacifist brainwashing that occurred. The geography of Japan also creates an island mentality that counters certain objectives of the right wing. Amending the constitution would enable Japan to participate in overseas conflict as frontline troops, this over time would have consequential effects upon the mindset of the population.

Japan is building up a narrative through political moves against its neighbors. It is setting up a certain amount of antagonism to justify militarization and normalization. I've written a little about it previously.
https://defence.pk/pdf/threads/japa...ted-project-in-thailand.568965/#post-10654066

No political party as of now can say to the US "please remove your troops from Japan". It will not happen under current conditions. The events that will unfold are gradual and sequential.

 

[Imran Khan]

japan should follow public not USA .

 

[haidian]

A defeated nation doesn't have a choice, they have been occupied by US for so long now many of them developed stockholm syndrome

 

[gambit]

japan should follow public not USA .

And if the JPNese public by way of superior votes want US?

 

[Pan-Islamic-Pakistan]

Rape of young girls in Okinawa by US soldiers has lead people to increasingly become skeptical and fearful of their presence on their island.

Most of the island residents want the bases gone and a return to normalcy.

Japanese people in general are sick and tired of being pawns and puppets in the US game.

When North Korea lobbed a missile over them recently, it became a real wake up call for them.

Why should Japan suffer for US diplomatic failures?

US inability to stop Chinese in the Disputed islands also led to more calls for a renewed Japanese military, Air Force, and navy to protect its sovereign lands.

 

[TaiShang]

Amending the constitution would enable Japan to participate in overseas conflict as frontline troops, this over time would have consequential effects upon the mindset of the population.

Amending constitution without political sovereignty would result in more subjugation for Japan, than less, because then its military would simply be an extended arm of the US not only in East Asia, but elsewhere, too.

I think this is currently the greatest concern of China's Japan watchers.

Thankfully, Trump killed the TPP and the trade fictions are putting a dent in their relations.

 

[bbccdd1470]

Amending constitution without political sovereignty would result in more subjugation for Japan, than less, because then its military would simply be an extended arm of the US not only in East Asia, but elsewhere, too.

I think this is currently the greatest concern of China's Japan watchers.

Thankfully, Trump killed the TPP and the trade fictions are putting a dent in their relations.

I think this is so much harder to reclaim the political sovereignty than amending the Article 9, there were examples how pro-Asian politicians had been suicide or killed in accident. The best they can do now is never to become the fodder cannon of the USA. Not to mention, the warrior spirit of the Japanese have almost completely gone, this is hard to imagine this is the same Japan that will never bow to other sovereign. But I could be wrong, where they are just being patience under this circumstance.

 

[TaiShang]

I think this is so much harder to reclaim the political sovereignty than amending the Article 9, there were examples how pro-Asian politicians had been suicide or killed in accident. The best they can do now is never to become the fodder cannon of the USA. Not to mention, the warrior spirit of the Japanese have almost completely gone, this is hard to imagine this is the same Japan that will never bow to other sovereign. But I could be wrong, where they are just being patience under this circumstance.

I agree, considering that to reclaim Japan's political sovereignty would indeed a very mission impossible, military normalization under these conditions is undesirable. Then, it is preferable for China, under current conditions, to ensure that Japan remains militarily restrained.

Japan has a great chance for greater political sovereignty from the US yoke, it comes under the name of the Belt and Road. Using this initiative, Japan can have access to the entire Eurasian markets, thereby, reducing its ill-dependency on the US market for exports.

In fact, Japanese companies are said to have already started to use China Railway to ship goods into the Eurasian heartland. However, I think due to fears for political repercussions by the US-controlled factions, they wish to do it in silence.

 

[Suika]

Sounds like Chinese posters here now are looking forward to the day that the Japanese prime minister can visit Yasukuni Shrine without drawing a hissy fit from China. Who would have thought?

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

US soldiers were and are raping Jap girls as usual.

 

[Suika]

US soldiers were and are raping Jap girls as usual.

Last time was in the 1990s.

US-Japan alliance means China expansionism contained. The alliance will not break. US forces stationed in Japan mean that the forces of both can train together regularly and frequently, thus maintaining a high degree of interoperability. And that US forces won't have to travel across the Pacific to be involved. They will have the option to respond immediately and that is to Japan's benefit. Thus, the US forces are no longer viewed as occupiers but as a welcomed ally.

 

[Adam WANG SHANGHAI MEGA]

Last time was in the 1990s.

US-Japan alliance means China expansionism contained. The alliance will not break. US forces stationed in Japan mean that the forces of both can train together regularly and frequently, thus maintaining a high degree of interoperability. And that US forces won't have to travel across the Pacific to be involved. They will have the option to respond immediately and that is to Japan's benefit. Thus, the US forces are no longer viewed as occupiers but as a welcomed ally.

1）This is why China will never trust the United States.
You and I are neighbors. You are holding a cannon at my door and facing me. I will never believe you.
2）Let see if you can say this again in the year of 2030.

Since Mao Zedong established the new China, China has never recognized the hegemony of the United States. China did not recognize US hegemony in the past,does not recognize US hegemony in the present and will not recognize US hegemony in the future neither.

The fate of China is to break the hegemony.

It is too late for the United States to think about limiting China now.